The Book of Eli

Eli:
Stay on the path. It's not your concern. Stay on the path. It's not your concern.

Lombardi:
You don't have to leave, you know. You're more than welcome to stay. You'll be perfectly safe here.

Solara:
Thank you. But this is something I have to do.

Lombardi:
Where will you go?

Solara:
[fingering Eli's machete] Home.

Solara:
[Carnegie's men are about to attack] What do we do?

Martha:
[C*cks hammer on rifle] I know what the f*** I'm doing!

Claudia:
[brought in to Carnegie's office] Where's Solara?

Carnegie:
Out there... her choice. I tried to... bring her back. She refused.

Claudia:
What did you do that she refused?

Carnegie:
[pushes the braille book toward her] Read it.

Claudia:
What did you do to my daughter?

Carnegie:
[raising his voice] Read it!

Claudia:
[shouting and slamming her hands down on the desk] What did you do to my daughter?

[Claudia's hands brush the braille writing. She realizes why Carnegie needs her to read the book and smiles]

Carnegie:
You can start any time.

Claudia:
[pushing the book away from her] Sorry. It's been so long, I don't remember.

Carnegie:
[pushes the book back to her] Read it...

Claudia:
[smiling vindictively] Do I have to? Really?

Carnegie:
[pleading now] No, you have to... please...!

Claudia:
Your leg.

Carnegie:
It doesn't hurt anymore.

Claudia:
I can smell it.

[Claudia feels her away around the desk and stretches her hand out toward Carnegie, reaching to touch his head. He leans forward and touches his forehead to her hand]

Claudia:
You worked so hard for that book. You sacrificed so much, so many men. More than you could spare.

[Claudia starts to lean her face in toward Carnegie, almost nose-to-nose with him]

Claudia:
Now, all those people who were too scared to even say your name, they're downstairs, tearing up the bar right now, did you know that? And there's no one there to stop them. And you're *feverish.*

[she pushes his head away and straightens up, smiling in satisfaction]

Claudia:
I can't imagine what it must feel like to have what you want so close, and it might as well be a million miles away.

Carnegie:
[as Claudia starts to leave] Stop it!... are you leaving me? Claudia!

[Claudia keeps walking away, not answering]

Carnegie:
Claudia!

Eli:
People had more than they needed. We had no idea what was precious and what wasn't. We threw away things people kill each other for now.

[last lines]

Eli:
Dear Lord, thank you for giving me the strength and the conviction to complete the task you entrusted to me. Thank you for guiding me straight and true through the many obstacles in my path. And for keeping me resolute when all around seemed lost. Thank you for your protection and your many signs along the way. Thank you for any good that I may have done, I'm so sorry about the bad. Thank you for the friend I made. Please watch over her as you watched over me. Thank you for finally allowing me to rest. I'm so very tired, but I go now to my rest at peace. Knowing that I have done right with my time on this earth. I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.

Eli:
Write everything exactly as I say it. The first book of Moses, called Genesis. Chapter 1, verse 1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Eli:
Verse 2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Eli:
Verse 3. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Eli:
In all these years I've been carrying it and reading it every day, I got so caught up in keeping it safe that I forgot to live by what I learned from it.

Eli:
Cursed be the ground for our sake. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for us. For out of the ground we were taken, for the dust we are... and to the dust we shall return

Solara:
What was it like before?

Eli:
People had more than they needed, people didn't know what was precious and what wasn't, people threw away things they kill each other for now.

Eli:
Thank you lord for a warm bed to sleep on, thank you for the food we are about to eat, thank you for a roof over our heads on cold nights such as this, thank you for companionship in hard times like these, Amen.

Carnegie:
I need that book, I want that book, I want you to stay but if you make me have to choose I'll kill you and take that book

Eli:
Why, why do you want it?

Carnegie:
I grew up with that book, I know its power.

Carnegie:
[to his men] Put a crew together, we're going after him.

Redridge:
For a f***in' book?

Carnegie:
IT'S NOT A F***IN' BOOK! IT'S A WEAPON! A weapon aimed right at the hearts and minds of the weak and the desperate. It will give us control of them. If we want to rule more than one small, f***in' town, we have to have it. People will come from all over, they'll do exactly what I tell 'em if the words are from the book. It's happened before and it'll happen again. All we need is that book.

Eli:
[whispering to Solara, after seeing the graves George and Martha made] We gotta go now.

Solara:
They killed all these people.

Eli:
Not just killed them, they ate them.

Solara:
Her hands, her hands were shaking.

Eli:
Too much human meat. Let's go.

Solara:
[in the middle of a gunfight with Carnegie's men] You know that voice you heard, did it say anything about this?

Eli:
We'll get out. Both of us.

George:
What about us?

Eli:
Didn't say anything about you.

Solara:
You know, you say you've been walking for thirty years, right?

Eli:
Right?

Solara:
Have you ever thought that maybe you were lost?

Eli:
Nope.

Solara:
Well, how do you know that you're walking in the right direction?

Eli:
I walk by faith, not by sight.

Solara:
[sighs] What does that mean?

Eli:
It means that you know something even if you don't know something.

Solara:
That doesn't make any sense.

Eli:
It doesn't have to make sense. It's faith, it's faith. It's the flower of light in the field of darkness that's giving me the strength to carry on. You understand?

Solara:
Is that from your book?

Eli:
No, it's, uh, Johnny Cash, Live at Folsom Prison.

Solara:
I didn't think you'd ever give up the book, I thought it was too important to you

Eli:
It was, I was carrying and reading it everyday, got so caught up in protecting it, I forgot to live by what I'd learnt from it

Solara:
And what's that?

Eli:
To do more for others than you do for yourself

Carnegie:
[Carnegie inspects the book] Ask and you shall receive. God is good, is he not?

Eli:
All the time.

Carnegie:
Not all the time. [shoots Eli]

Eli:
They say the war tore a hole in the sky, you've probably heard the stories.

Solara:
Yeah.

Eli:
The war tore a hole in the sky, the sun came down, burnt everything, everyone, I wandered, I didn't really know what I should do or where I was going. I was just moving from place to place, trying to stay alive. And then one day I heard this voice. I don't know how to explain it, it's like it was coming from inside me. But I could hear it clear as day. Clear as I can hear you talking to me now. It told me to carry the book west, it told me that a path would be laid out before me, that I'd be led to a place where the book would be safe. It told me I'd be protected, against anyone or anything that tried to stand in my way. If only I would have faith. That was thirty years ago and I've been walking ever since.

Solara:
And you did all this because a voice told you to?

Eli:
I know what I hear, I know what I heard, I know I'm not crazy, I didn't imagine it

Hoyt:
[seeing two dead hijackers] It's like he's protected somehow. Like there's nothing that can touch him

Carnegie:
Oh, he's just a f***ing man. You put a bullet in him, he'll go down like any other.

Eli:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.He restores my soul he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me

Solara:
That's beautiful, did you write that?

Eli:
Yes, I did.

[chuckles]

Eli:
No, no. No. No, that was around a long time before you and I got here, that's for sure.

Hijack Leader:
What ya got there in that pack?

Eli:
What pack?

Hijacker:
He got a gun.

Hijack Leader:
Sh*t, it ain't loaded. Oh, they never are. Ain't that right, old man? Open the pack and tip it out on the road nice and slow.

Eli:
Can't do that.

Hijack Leader:
Take off the f***ing pack. And put it on the ground. Or DIE!

Young Woman Hijacker:
Ooooh.

Hijack Leader:
[pokes Eli hard] Are you listening to me?

Eli:
I am now.

Hijack Leader:
Good.

Eli:
You listening to me?

Hijack Leader:
Yeah.

Eli:
Good. Put that hand on me again, you won't get it back.

Hijack Leader:
[laughing] Do you believe this f***ing guy? All right, you want to do it the hard way.

[the leader grabs at Eli, who pulls a machete and cuts off his hand at the wrist]

Hijack Leader:
How'd you do that? He just cut my hand off! What are you standing around for? Kiss him!

Hijacker:
What'd he say?

Eli:
He's in shock. I think he meant, "Kill him."

Solara:
[after Solara takes Eli to where they get their water from, he locks her in] You are such a liar!

Eli:
I'm not a liar

Solara:
You said I could come with you if I took you to the water

Eli:
I didn't say that, you said that, the road's no place for someone like you, trust me, you're safter there than you think

Solara:
Hey

Eli:
Yeah

Solara:
F*** you!

Eli:
Did you get blinded by the war or the sun after?

Claudia:
I was like this since birth, I was lucky, I was already used to living like this

Eli:
I like the perfume

Claudia:
Its just shampoo but thank you

Carnegie:
Is he staying?

Solara:
We didn't do much talking.

Claudia:
Solara honey, eat something.

Solara:
Mom, give me your hand. Close your eyes. Mom, trust me... Dear Lord.

[Carnegie freezes where he is sitting, listening intently]

Solara:
We thank you for our food. Thank you for my mother. Thank you for the roof over our heads and our new friends. And, uh... Well, I guess that's all for now.

Carnegie:
Amen. That's the word you're looking for, Amen. That's how you stop. You said you didn't talk much. But did he do any reading?... I asked you a question.

Claudia:
Bill, don't.

Carnegie:
You, shut your mouth.

[Solara still says nothing. Carnegie grabs Claudia by her hair, pulling her head back until she screams in pain]

Carnegie:
You're hurting your mother, Solara. He said he read every day. Did he?

Solara:
Stop it!

Carnegie:
[yanking Claudia off her chair and forcing her to her knees, still pulling her hair] Your mother would like you to tell me.

Solara:
[getting very scared] I don't know! I don't know... Yes, okay! Yes, yes, he was reading.

Carnegie:
What kind of book was he reading?

Solara:
I don't know. I don't know! An old leather one.

Carnegie:
And?

Solara:
I don't know, it had some kind of thing on the front of it.

Carnegie:
Show me.

Solara:
I need you to let her go.

Carnegie:
[shouting] Show me!

[Solara fearfully puts her fingers together into a cross]

Young Woman Hijacker:
Where are you going?

Eli:
West

Young Woman Hijacker:
Can I come with you?

Eli:
No

Carnegie:
And who are you?

Eli:
Nobody.

Carnegie:
Oh, I doubt that. The men you killed in my bar, now they were nobody.

Martz:
That was my cat.

Eli:
Fine specimen.

Martz:
I saw you knock him off the bar.

Eli:
No. I kind of shooed him. I didn't really knock him...

Martz:
You raised your hand at him.

Eli:
Won't happen again, I promise you.

Bartender:
Hey, Martz, how about another drink?

Martz:
That cat's been coming here for two years. Its got more right to be here than you.

Eli:
I don't want any trouble.

Martz:
Well that's too bad. Cuz you got...

Eli:
[Eli slams Martz's head on the bar railing] "I know who you are. Murderer of innocent travelers on the road. You're gonna be held to account for the things you've done, do you know that? Do you?

Solara:
[knocking on the door to Eli's room] Can I come in?

Eli:
Give me a minute.

[Eli covers his book with his blanket]

Eli:
Someone already came with food and water. I got everything I need.

Solara:
[entering the room wearing a pink negligee] Are you sure about that? It's really bright in here. I'm Solara.

Eli:
Right. You filled my canteen downstairs.

Solara:
Yeah. You're the walker, right?

Eli:
Right.

[Solara puts her hand on Eli's waist and starts to come on to him, but he grabs her hand]

Solara:
If - if you're worried about paying, it's on the house.

Eli:
Look. Paying for what?

Solara:
Why don't you take a seat?

[Eli walks to the door and opens it, gesturing for Solara to leave]

Solara:
No.

[Solara walks to the door and closes it]

Solara:
No, I can't go. I can't. If I do, he'll hurt my mom.

Eli:
Who?

Solara:
Carnegie.

Eli:
He's your father?

Solara:
No, no, but we belong to him just the same. Look, I'll sleep on the floor. Tomorrow you can tell him you had a good time. I promise you, I will be no trouble. Please.

[first lines]

Young Woman Hijacker:
Please, don't hurt me. Here, take anything you want. You want some food? Take it.

Eli:
I'm not gonna hurt you.

Young Woman Hijacker:
Yeah? That's what the last guy said. Could... could you help me? The wheel came off. I can't fix it. Maybe if I... if I could... but I can't.

Eli:
You know the only good thing about no soap... is that you can smell hijackers a mile off!

Engineer:
You can wait over there, across the street at the Orpheum.

Eli:
No, I'll wait here.

Engineer:
Bar is about ready to open.

Eli:
I'll wait here.

Engineer:
You don't trust me, do you?

Eli:
Uh... I'll wait here.

Carnegie:
[about Eli] I love this guy. I love this guy.

[to Redridge]

Carnegie:
Shoot him, please.

Solara:
I want to come with you.

Eli:
No, you don't.

Solara:
I hate it here.

Eli:
Then change it.

Lombardi:
There's a whole series of beautiful Mozart and Wagner records, in still very pristine condition. But, never a Bible. Until now. May I ask what condition it's in?

Eli:
It's beat up. But it will do the job.

Lombardi:
[to his assistant] Could you get us some writing paper, please.

Eli:
A lot of it. A whole lot of it.

Solara:
Do you really read the same book everyday?

Eli:
Without fail.