From the Oscar nominated filmization of the Kathryn Stockett novel.
An aspiring author during the civil rights
movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African-American
maid's point of view on the white families for which they work, and the
hardships they go through on a daily basis.
In the Film there is an offscreen spanking scene when little Mae Mobley uses an unclean toilet, and her mother sees it.
However in the novel, although containing no such scene, there are two other spanking references:
REFERENCE A, when the protagonists mother explains to her daughter the rules of how to be a maid:
“Rule Number Five: you eat in the kitchen.
“Rule Number Six: you don’t hit on her children. White people like to do their own spanking.”
“Rule Number Seven: this is the last one, Minny. Are you listening to me? No sass-mouthing.”
REFERENCE B:
LATE THAT AFTERNOON, Miss Leefolt come home with her hair all teased up. She got a permanent and she smell like pneumonia.
“Guess what Mae Mobley done today?” I say. “Went to the bathroom in the toilet bowl.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” She give her girl a hug, something I don’t see enough of. I know she mean it, too, cause Miss Leefolt do not like changing diapers.
I say, “You got to make sure she go in the pot from now on. It’s real confusing for her if you don’t.”
Miss Leefolt smile, say, “Alright.”
“Let’s see if she do it one more time fore I go home.” We go in the bathroom. I get her diapers off and put her up on that toilet. But Baby Girl, she shaking
her head.
“Come on, Mae Mobley, can’t you go in the pot for your mama?”
“Noooo.”
Finally I put her back down on her feet. “That’s alright, you did real good today.”
But Miss Leefolt, she got her lips sticking out and she hmphing and frowning down at her. Before I can get her diaper on again, Baby Girl run off fast as
she can. Nekkid little white baby running through the house. She in the kitchen. She got the back door open, she in the garage, trying to reach the knob to
my bathroom. We run after her and Miss Leefolt pointing her finger. Her voice go about ten pitches too high. “This is not your bathroom!”
Baby Girl wagging her head. “My bafroom!”
Miss Leefolt snatch her up, give her a pop on the leg.
“Miss Leefolt, she don’t know what she do—”
“Get back in the house, Aibileen!”
I hate it, but I go in the kitchen. I stand in the middle, leave the door open behind me.
“I did not raise you to use the colored bathroom!” I hear her hiss-whispering, thinking I can’t hear, and I think, Lady, you didn’t raise your child at all.
“This is dirty out here, Mae Mobley. You’ll catch diseases! No no no!” And I hear her pop her again and again on her bare legs.
After a second, Miss Leefolt potato-sack her inside. There ain’t nothing I can do but watch it happen. My heart feel like it’s squeezing up into my throatpipe. Miss Leefolt drop Mae Mobley in front a the tee-vee and she march to her bedroom and slam the door. I go give Baby Girl a hug. She still crying and
she look awful confused.
“I’m real sorry, Mae Mobley,” I whisper to her. I’m cussing myself for taking her out there in the first place. But I don’t know what else to say, so I just hold
her.
We set there watching Li’l Rascals until Miss Leefolt come out, ask ain’t it past time for me to go. I tuck my bus dime in my pocket. Give Mae Mobley one
more hug, whisper, “You a smart girl. You a good girl.”
On the ride home, I don’t see the big white houses passing outside the window. I don’t talk to my maid friends. I see Baby Girl getting spanked cause a
me. I see her listening to Miss Leefolt call me dirty, diseased.
The clip was first mentioned by TARC on the SF&R Chat Forum, then posted by cinndunc
Spankee: Eleanor Henry
Spanker: Ahna O’Reilly
Director: Tate Taylor
