TITLE CARD:
WYOMING TERRITORY, 1885
EXT. OPEN FIELDS DAYTIME
Two men, HANK SAWYER and JACK BRYANT, watch as a herd of
cattle is driven through. A galloping rider, STANZ, breaks
off from driving the herd. SAWYER is a slim young man with
long sideburns. BRYANT is older, has a mustache and piercing
eyes. STANZ is barely more than a boy.
STANZ:
Bryant! Word's just come in! Come
outta Rock Springs. There's been a
massacre. Chinamen up and killed
some of our boys.
BRYANT:
I don't have no boys in Rock
Springs.
STANZ:
Whites. They's immigrants, mostly,
but they ain't from China.
BRYANT:
Well good for them. Frees up more
land.
STANZ:
They ain't got no land. They's
miners.
BRYANT:
Well that's a pity.
(looks to SAWYER)
Should we send them a funeral
wreath?
SAWYER:
(focusing on the cattle)
Mmmmm.
STANZ:
But we gotta do something! Those
Chinamen-
BRYANT:
You're giving your family a bad
name, Stanz. Your pop and I go way
back.
And I'm tired of saving your ass,
let alone some damn miners in Rock
Springs.
STANZ:
Well, maybe I was misinformed.
SAWYER casually stamps out a cigarette on his gloved palm.
STANZ rides off.
BRYANT:
I just wish the boy would act
right. I think he could have
potential.
SAWYER:
Mmmmm.
BRYANT:
You've been in a rut lately, you
know that?
SAWYER:
That's what happens when you go in
a circle long enough.
BRYANT:
Is it Eleanor? She done something?
SAWYER:
She's not doing so well. Got the
TB. But I got no complaints.
BRYANT:
Well, I reckon we own one of the
most prosperous towns in the
territory. So maybe you could try
to be happy.
SAWYER:
People just think you own it. Once
they stop thinking it, you stop
owning it.
BRYANT:
You're supposed to keep everyone
thinking it.
SAWYER:
You know I don't like thinking.
BRYANT:
Well, fix to start thinking then,
Hank.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE DISTANT TOWN OF SQUALOR IN THE DISTANCE
A lonely piano clinks out discordant notes as we glide
towards the town. It features a few saloons, a whorehouse, a
hotel, a billiards parlor, and a few homes scattered off of
the main street. Cast and other titles run over this
sequence.
CUT TO:
INT. BRYANT'S OFFICE AFTERNOON
SAWYER stands at the bar, carefully selecting a bottle of
booze. BRYANT sits at his desk, before the window,
listening.
PATTERSON:
(o.s.)
I'm buying cattle off the K Ranch
up Cheyenne Falls. Don Brubaker's
outfit. I know it's risky to move
cattle through some parts of the
territory and that's why I hire
local boys to help. Because local
is loyal, I don't need to tell you
that. And the Stanz family name
carries weight in Squalor and
Pissagua and every other burg
between here and Cheyenne Falls.
The father was a Marshall for the
territory before the war. So I
have every reason to expect that
the boy will carry on the good
faith, you see? That's why I hire
him. And I pay my men well. Don't
I, Drysdale?
REVERSE TO:
INT. BRYANT'S OFFICE AFTERNOON
PATTERSON, a respectable white-haired man in an impeccable
suit, sits in the chair opposite BRYANT.
His henchman, DRYSDALE, is a tall and muscular brute with a
keen intelligence in his eyes. DRYSDALE nods his head.
PATTERSON:
That's right, I pay them damn well.
I don't care how they spend it,
whores or billiards or what have
you, but I pay them for loyalty.
And I think a businessman should be
able to expect loyalty from his
employees. But every time that kid
Stanz goes on a drive, suddenly
half my herd didn't make it.
They've got hoof and mouth disease.
They got held up by a flooded creek
and some got away. I know that
driving is a chance business, so I
expect some sport. But not this
much sport. Not a 50% loss on my
investment. You understand what
I'm saying?
BRYANT:
Sure. You want all your cattle.
PATTERSON:
That's how I see it and how
Drysdale sees it, too. Not only do
I invest in the drive, I invest in
the handlers. And this kid Stanz,
well, he ain't as trustworthy as
his name.
SAWYER:
How many did you lose from the
drive that came in today?
PATTERSON:
One hundred out of five.
BRYANT:
Why don't you just stop paying him?
PATTERSON:
That's the part I was just getting
to. You know everything in this
town, and you oughtta, but maybe
you don't know some things and it
is up to me, begrudgingly, to shed
some light on these certain things.
Stanz has a bastard.
BRYANT:
Yeah?
PATTERSON:
He's got several of them. He's
been banging the whores all the way
up and down the territory and he's
in a fix for money. Now, his
father don't want no bastard
grandchildren and he don't want
none from whores. And, like I
said, his father carries weight.
He's the guy that could shoot an
eye out of a crow at three hundred
yards, while it's raining.
BRYANT:
I know his father, I know all the
Stanz's in the territory. They
draw water. You don't.
PATTERSON:
I want to settle this reasonably.
But that old man Stanz just won't
listen to reason. That son is
robbing me blind and his daddy's
laughing at me. So part of the
payoff that should be in my pocket
lines theirs. The whole situation
ain't right, Bryant.
BRYANT:
He's sticking his tongue at you
from behind his father's shadow?
PATTERSON:
That's about the short of it. I
know, it seems complicated. But
I'm not the one that started this
mess.
BRYANT:
So you want to kill them?
DRYSDALE:
And five minutes ago is too late.
PATTERSON:
So you can see why I can't just
stop paying him. That's all that
stands between us and the abyss.
BRYANT:
What do you want me to do?
PATTERSON:
That's what I'm doing here for.
You're the law in Squalor. Nobody
craps in this town without your say
so. So you're the one that can
make eliminations.
BRYANT:
This smells like a giant
elimination. Why don't you just
move on to another town?
PATTERSON:
I like it here. The population is
colorful.
BRYANT:
And you got a long eye on you. You
like the view from this window.
PATTERSON:
Let's get back to basics. Stanz
ain't gonna run me out of my own
town.
BRYANT:
(looks at SAWYER and then
back to PATTERSON)
Sorry, Patterson, I can't let you
do it.
PATTERSON:
Well, Bryant, I ain't exactly
asking here. Don't worry, it won't
come back to bite you on the ass.
BRYANT:
Yeah? You got out of town talent
riding in for this?
PATTERSON:
I'm a businessman. I do what I
must.
BRYANT:
You came here to see if I'd bite
your head off and I think you've
got your answer. There's the
newspaper out here, now. They can
put a story on the telegraph.
DRYSDALE:
Well maybe after we've written off
Stanz, we'll come back and do a
little story on you.
PATTERSON:
That's enough. He don't mean what
he says, Bryant. His head's bigger
than his britches sometimes.
DRYSDALE:
Balls.
PATTERSON:
Hey, come on. We're all friends
here.
BRYANT:
You make a move on Stanz and
there'll be two graves out there,
Patterson.
PATTERSON:
It ain't a meeting with you if it
doesn't end with you threatening to
bury someone. Or so I hear.
PATTERSON and DRYSDALE exit. SAWYER throws himself down on a
couch against the wall. He pulls his hat over his eyes and
sits for a few seconds.
SAWYER:
You fell for it.
BRYANT:
You think so?
SAWYER:
I do.
BRYANT:
You'd like to be the smartest guy
in town, Sawyer, but did you ever
think that I win either way?
SAWYER:
But he's bringing gunmen. Hired
killers for a grudge.
BRYANT:
You haven't followed through. You
need to work on that.
(beat)
No, this is the best play.
Patterson can't take Stanz, we'll
see to that. Patterson's becoming
a burr under my saddle.
SAWYER:
Love the horse metaphor. How
confident are you that you can go
toe to toe with a man like
Patterson?
BRYANT:
I reckon I can take on any man in
the territory. Hiring guns ain't a
hard prospect in this region.
SAWYER:
Holding a town ain't as easy. You
start to look weak and they'll gang
up on you. I don't care about the
Stanz's but-
BRYANT:
Well I care. And that's all that
matters.
SAWYER:
You think they're off jerking each
other over the kill now?
BRYANT:
Patterson, maybe. Drysdale doesn't
come until the blood's flowing.
INT. SAWYER'S ROOM AFTERNOON
ELEANOR, a startling brunette beauty, lies prostrate on the
bed, only half conscious. DR ABNER, a short man in a bowler
hat and collar with no tie, is pulling bottles out of his
kit.
DR ABNER:
Miss Eleanor, it's three bits you
owe me already.
ELEANOR:
Is that all of my credit?
DR ABNER:
Singing in the show don't buy you
much.
ELEANOR:
What about being Sawyer's Saturday
night gal? That do anything?
DR ABNER:
I would, of course, have to consult
with-
ELEANOR:
Then forget it.
DR ABNER:
As you like. This will make five
bits.
ELEANOR:
I can pay you on Tuesday.
DR ABNER:
It is Tuesday.
ELEANOR:
Then on Thursday.
There is some COMMOTION outside the window and DR ABNER looks
out. He sees PASTOR DAVE giving a speech on the wooden
sidewalk across the dirt street.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE CAJUN SAME TIME
PASTOR DAVE, a poorly dressed man with long hair, covered
with dust, is TALKING LOUDLY.
PASTOR DAVE:
And the hand of God will come down
on this town if the men of bad will
do not leave their fortunes. For a
camel shall sooner pass through the
eye of a needle than a rich man
shall enter the paradise of heaven.
AUDIENCE:
Amen!
PASTOR DAVE:
We are a community living in the
midst of sin. There are lynchings.
There are shootings in the very
streets we walk with our children.
AUDIENCE:
Amen!
PASTOR DAVE:
Who among you will stand up to the
test of the Lord? Who among you
will take the Lord's challenge to
live free from all sin? Would you
die as he died, so that others may
live?
The crowd CLAPS.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE STANZ RANCH NIGHT
The former Marshall, EWAN, is carefully hanging a lantern
from a hook on the front porch. He is old, long white hair,
a beaten old duster on his back. He has no hat. After the
lantern is placed, he draws up a Spencer rifle and sits in an
old rocking chair. He stares at the moon over the hills in
the distance. Somewhere far away, a dog BARKS. There is a
SCRAPING noise. EWAN focuses his eyes but sees only
darkness. He lays the rifle across his lap and pulls a
bottle of whiskey from beneath the chair. Finally, he
speaks.
EWAN:
If you mean me harm, come up to me
like a man.
A RUSTLING sound in the bushes. EWAN waits. Eventually, a
figure appears, silhouetted by the moonlight. It is a man
and he drags a small cart behind him. Very quick, EWAN has
aimed the rifle at the figure.
EWAN:
Identify yourself.
CARR:
It's me, Marshall. It's Benny
Carr.
EWAN LAUGHS.
EWAN:
I was about to put a hole through
your chest.
CARR:
I just brought along your weekly
dry goods.
EWAN:
Why you making a visit so late at
night?
CARR:
Seemed right. 'ts not that late.
EWAN:
Is there anyone with you?
CARR:
You'd know better than me.
CARR has now emerged into the dim light cast by the lantern.
EWAN places his rifle back on his lap.
EWAN:
Iff'n you were followed, they're
quiet.
CARR:
Well, like I says, there's just
some dry goods for the week. Some
whiskey. Where's that son of
yours?
EWAN makes a dismissive gesture.
CARR:
Right. Well. I'll leave the cart,
you can return it tomorrow. Mayhap
day after.
EWAN:
How's my credit?
CARR makes a so-so gesture with his hand.
EWAN:
Mark it in the ledger. I'll send
the boy with some money tomorrow.
CARR:
What time, you think?
EWAN:
He sleeps the morning. Maybe the
afternoon.
CARR:
Before lunch, or-
EWAN:
He'll be in when he's in. I'll see
to it. How much whiskey did you
bring?
CARR:
Three bottles.
EWAN:
That'll do.
CARR:
Then I'll expect him tomorrow.
CARR starts to walk away. EWAN casually lifts the rifle and
draws a bead on his back. He stares at him walking for a few
yards and then softly says:
EWAN:
Bang.
CUT TO:
INT. THE CAJUN NIGHT
SAWYER sits at the bar keeping a careful eye on a poker game
in the corner. The bartender, REISS, pours another shot for
him.
REISS:
You got Patterson's five hundred?
SAWYER:
He can carry me another day.
REISS:
He won't like it.
SAWYER:
He ain't Jesus on the throne.
A cowboy, DALTON, enters the bar. He appears drunk. SAWYER
seems to recognize him.
SAWYER:
Reiss, you keep that shooter under
the bar still?
REISS:
What's it to ya?
SAWYER:
Trouble just walked in.
REISS looks at DALTON.
REISS:
Looks harmless enough.
SAWYER:
He's carrying. And not just one
hip.
REISS:
No law against it.
SAWYER:
Just keep the shooter close.
SAWYER walks towards DALTON.
SAWYER:
Are you Dalton out of Moorehead?
DALTON:
No, I'm Chase. Don't know any
Dalton.
SAWYER:
Where did you ride in from?
DALTON:
Pissagua.
SAWYER:
You meet any whores up that way?
DALTON:
Nothing but whores, near be.
SAWYER:
There's one in particular. She's
got a nose rotted away by syphilis.
DALTON:
Wouldn't cotton to that.
SAWYER notices that DALTON is taking furtive glances at
BENDER, the local tough.
SAWYER:
You see something that interests
you?
DALTON:
How's that?
SAWYER:
You're not from around these parts.
You got a bit of a Minnesota
accent.
DALTON:
I said I wasn't from no god damn
Moorehead.
SAWYER:
(leaning in)
He's only got one.
DALTON:
(irritated)
Mister, you got a point?
SAWYER:
We only tolerate fair fights in
this town. Hand over one of yours.
DALTON:
I didn't come for no fight. I just
want a drink after a long day on
the trail.
SAWYER reaches out and flips open the man's coat. He grabs
one of his revolvers and withdraws it from its holster.
DALTON jerks away but the gun is already gone. He begins to
draw the other but something in SAWYER'S eyes stops him.
SAWYER:
If you're ready to draw down, you'd
best do it now. I'm as drunk as
I'm going to get tonight.
DALTON stares at him, his hand still frozen on his other
pistol.
SAWYER:
Reiss, I'd like to buy this man a
drink.
He hands the gun over the counter as the drink is poured.
SAWYER:
And keep this until the gentleman
is ready to leave.
DALTON:
Thank you, stranger.
DALTON sits down on a stool at the bar and takes the drink
down in one gulp. SAWYER begins to walk away.
REISS:
(to DALTON)
It's smart to listen to him. He's
the most dangerous man in the
territory.
SAWYER has made his way over to BENDER.
SAWYER:
That man is gunning for you.
BENDER:
I seen him.
SAWYER:
It's nothing to do with me but he's
wanted. They say he's pretty fast
with a pistol.
BENDER:
Faster than me?
SAWYER:
Don't you find out.
BENDER:
What if I should want to collect
the reward?
SAWYER considers.
SAWYER:
You want it real bad, don't you?
You ever killed a man, Bender?
BENDER looks away.
SAWYER:
No, of course not. You just like
to scare people. And he's one you
can't scare. So take your friends
and ride.
BENDER pushes past SAWYER and slurs:
BENDER:
Come on, fellas. I wanna see a man
about a horse.
DALTON notices their exit and starts to slide away from the
bar to follow them but SAWYER is suddenly there with him,
wrapping an arm around his shoulder and keeping him there.
SAWYER:
Another drink for my new friend.
CUT TO:
EXT. FOOT OF A MOUNTAIN SUNRISE
EVERS, a common looking man, is dead. He is sprawled out on
rocks at the foot of the mountain, apparently having fallen
off. SARAH, a pathetic drunken woman, is going through his
pockets. As she hears a HORSE APPROACHING from around the
bend, she leaps up and starts running towards the sound. She
finds NEWMAN, a deputy, approaching.
SARAH:
That you, Newman?
NEWMAN:
Sure as can be. What you doing at
the ridge, Sarah?
SARAH:
Evers is down here.
NEWMAN:
Well tell him that Bryant's been
lookin' for 'im.
SARAH:
I don't think he's gonna hear it.
NEWMAN pulls past her and sees the body.
NEWMAN:
(to himself)
Holy shit.
SARAH:
I wasn't looting him or nothing. I
moved his head to see if I could
feel a pulse.
You reckon we should move him
before the buzzards get to picking?
CUT TO:
EXT. MAIN STREET OF SQUALOR MORNING
NEWMAN is riding up the street on his horse, EVERS' body tied
across the rear. People make way, stop talking, gaze at
what's passing. We see PATTERSON standing on top of the
Cajun, watching as the body passes. SAWYER, having just
woken and dressed, pulls his horse alongside NEWMAN.
SAWYER:
Where did you find him?
NEWMAN:
Devil's Ridge.
SAWYER:
You reckon he fell?
NEWMAN:
That's what the signs indicate.
SAWYER:
Did Pascal tell you to watch over
Bryant last night?
NEWMAN:
No, sir.
SAWYER:
Is anyone posted at Bryant's?
NEWMAN:
Don't think so.
SAWYER:
Would you mind sticking around?
NEWMAN:
This guy keeps farting. You don't
think he's still alive, do ya?
SAWYER looks carefully at the skull wound.
SAWYER:
Nah, I reckon not.
CUT TO:
INT. BRYANT'S OFFICE MINUTES LATER
BRYANT SLAMS his hand on the desk.
BRYANT:
This is unacceptable.
SAWYER:
Doc says that he probably fell.
BRYANT:
You ever known Evers to drink on a
job?
SAWYER:
No.
BRYANT:
His shoulder was dislocated. Like
he'd had his arm pushed up his
back.
SAWYER:
Yep.
(beat)
So?
BRYANT:
So I had Evers out following
Patterson's henchmen last night.
SAWYER:
Oh yeah?
BRYANT:
Don't give me the babe in the woods
routine. You'd have done the same
thing if you were a thinker.
SAWYER:
Maybe Patterson's more than just a
burr under your saddle.
BRYANT:
Patterson doesn't have the brains
to put one over on me.
SAWYER:
Then why is one of yours dead and
nobody was here protecting you last
night?
BRYANT:
Protection? I didn't ask for any.
SAWYER:
Well I did.
BRYANT:
I want you to get me Pascal and the
mayor in here. We'll straighten
this out.
SAWYER:
Yeah. I'll get 'em. And then you
can find me at Rudy's.
CUT TO:
INT. RUDY'S LATER
SAWYER has just attempted sex with a Hispanic prostitute,
ESPERANZA. She lays in bed in a corset, watching him collect
items and return them to his pockets. His shirt is still
unbuttoned.
ESPERANZA:
How long have you been seeing me,
Sawyer?
SAWYER:
I don't know. Couple years?
ESPERANZA:
And in all that time, have you been
in love with someone else?
SAWYER turns to her and stuffs a bill in her mouth.
SAWYER:
I don't come for the conversation.
CUT TO:
INT. BRYANT'S OFFICE AFTERNOON
PASCAL, the town's Sheriff, and LEAKE, the town mayor, are
being given their orders by BRYANT. SAWYER enters the room.
BRYANT:
That was fast, Sawyer.
SAWYER:
She started talking.
LEAKE:
Mr. Sawyer, I just wanted to hand
along my condolences for the
unfortunate-
SAWYER:
It's not unfortunate so much as
inconvenient.
BRYANT:
They took out his gold tooth.
Christ, that's strange.
SAWYER:
Maybe it was a dentist.
BRYANT:
Gold digger, more like. How did
Patterson get his start in this
town again?
SAWYER:
Mmmmm.
PASCAL:
If it's not about me, I got nothing
to say. But I think Patterson is
most dangerous when cornered.
SAWYER:
Then you've got nothing to say.
Why wasn't anyone watching over
Bryant last night, Sheriff?
PASCAL:
There was a brawl at the Beerson.
All my deputies were required
there.
SAWYER:
(to BRYANT)
You really want to go man to man
with Patterson when he's got a
whole army behind him?
BRYANT:
I don't step down from a fight,
Sawyer.
SAWYER:
But you also don't start swinging
every time you find a hornet's
nest.
BRYANT:
It ain't even about that no more.
He killed Evers. We've got to do
something.
SAWYER:
Patterson's been playing you like a
fiddle and now he's drawing you
into a fight. Just when you look
weak. He's bringing in out of town
muscle-
BRYANT:
Then tell me what to beat him with,
Sawyer!
SAWYER:
You beat him by not fighting him at
a time and place of his choosing.
What do you think he'll do after
he's killed Stanz?
BRYANT:
He won't get that far. Tell him,
Pascal.
PASCAL:
Yes, well. It seems that Mr.
Patterson is some months in arrears
of property tax payments. And he's
also been providing spirits in his
establishment with a license that
expired a week ago.
BRYANT:
That's right. It seems a clerical
error voided his right to serve
whiskey in the township.
SAWYER:
When did you start needing a
license to serve whiskey in
Squalor?
BRYANT:
Oh, maybe three weeks. When did we
do that vote, Joseph?
LEAKE:
Yeah, about three weeks.
(to SAWYER)
Most of the votes came from Pastor
Dave's flock. They're part of the
temperance movement, wouldn't you
know.
SAWYER:
Funny, this business with Patterson
started up about three weeks ago.
LEAKE:
I just do as I'm told, Mr. Sawyer,
you know that.
SAWYER:
You sure that's the right move,
Bryant?
BRYANT:
Sure, why not? Put a fucking knife
in his side. You got a problem
with that?
SAWYER:
My opinion used to count for
something but it looks like your
mind's made up.
BRYANT:
Hey, come on. Not like that.
SAWYER SLAMS the door as he leaves.
INT. THE GULCH DAY
A beaten older man, SPARSKI, walks in and inquires at the
bar. The bartender, JIMMY, points out SAWYER having a drink
at the far end of the bar. SPARSKI approaches him.
SPARSKI:
Be'n you Mr. Sawyer?
SAWYER:
Yup.
SPARSKI:
I'm Sparski. I was told you're the
man to buy a lot from.
SAWYER:
Yup.
SPARSKI:
What's the going rate?
SAWYER:
Depends on location.
SPARSKI:
If I was to open a dry good store
on the main street here-
SAWYER:
I'd need two thousand in payment
and 'nother two hundred in
insurance.
SPARSKI:
That's pretty steep.
SAWYER:
If you don't like it, you can move
on.
SPARSKI:
No, no, this is the spot. Is there
any chance-
JIMMY:
I'll give you twenty-five hundred
for that spot, Sawyer.
SPARSKI:
Twenty-six.
JIMMY:
Twenty-six and fifty.
SPARSKI considers for a second.
SPARSKI:
I'll give you twenty-eight hundred.
Final offer.
JIMMY:
Too rich for me. I'd have to sell
the saloon to finance that.
SAWYER makes a motion and JIMMY pulls out a deed from under
the bar.
SAWYER:
How's your scribbling?
SPARSKI:
I can write my name real good.
SAWYER:
Then do it here.
SPARSKI signs the deed and lays down a stack of bills and a
bag of gold. SAWYER nods. SPARSKI exits, shouting that he's
just bought a claim as soon as he's out the door.
SAWYER:
That was dangerous, Jimmy. He
might not have gone for it.
JIMMY:
Well, life in Squalor's all a risk,
in'it? You think I could get a
percentage?
SAWYER:
No percentage in losing.
SAWYER takes the money and walks off.
INT. PASTOR DAVE'S CHURCH AFTERNOON
PASTOR DAVE is in the office, carefully writing out the words
of his next sermon. ELEANOR appears at the door.
ELEANOR:
I'm not disturbing, am I?
PASTOR DAVE:
Of course not. You can help me
with my ciphers.
ELEANOR:
You read the Bible so fluently.
PASTOR DAVE:
I've got the best parts memorized.
Nah, I was raised to believe, not
to read.
ELEANOR stumbles a bit. PASTOR DAVE rushes over and sits her
in the chair.
PASTOR DAVE:
Miss Eleanor, are you sick?
ELEANOR:
I'm not well at all. Can I ask
you: Does Bryant have something on
you?
PASTOR DAVE is spooked.
PASTOR DAVE:
Now why would you ask that?
ELEANOR:
He's a scheming murderer. And you
defer to him.
PASTOR DAVE:
Sometimes you have to go along to
get along.
ELEANOR:
What would the Lord say about lying
down to evil?
PASTOR DAVE:
This is not a wasted town. I have
fostered a flock here. You could
say I brought Jesus to these
people. And I turn more every day.
ELEANOR:
You made a deal with the devil to
do so.
PASTOR DAVE does not respond.
ELEANOR:
The thing is, I'm with child.
PASTOR DAVE:
Oh, I see.
(long pause)
How long?
ELEANOR:
Two months, at most.
PASTOR DAVE:
And why are you telling me?
ELEANOR:
To ask you something.
PASTOR DAVE:
There's a tea sold by that snake
charmer Finsmore. If it acts as
advertised, you will have shed this
burden.
ELEANOR is near tears.
PASTOR DAVE:
But I can't sanction that no how.
I am talking not as a Pastor now
but as a man helping a woman in
need. If you are serious about
this, then take the tea. But if-
ELEANOR:
That's not what I was going to ask.
(beat)
I want you to bless the child and
take it away from here. Find it a
family that will care for it and
provide.
PASTOR DAVE:
I don't know how to answer that.
ELEANOR:
Because if I raise this child with
Sawyer as his father, he will go
the way of him. Sawyer corrupts
everything he touches.
PASTOR DAVE:
How will you hide the child?
ELEANOR:
I have money saved. I will go to a
mission in Texas. I've made it
known that I have the TB.
PASTOR DAVE:
Then why don't you make
arrangements in Texas to-
ELEANOR:
Because, Pastor, I want you to come
with me.
He becomes agitated, fidgety.
ELEANOR:
I know it's a lot to ask. But if
you say that you're training
missionaries in the Kansas
territory-
PASTOR DAVE:
This town needs my guidance.
ELEANOR:
This town will shed blood, soon
enough. And I'm offering a way
out. For the both of us.
PASTOR DAVE:
Let me think about it.
ELEANOR:
Can you pray for me?
INT. A TRAIN CAR DAY
"MEAN" MIKE GRISSOM, a slovenly drunkard, sits by the window,
blowing smoke out it as the train barrels onward. He is
nothing much to look at. He appears to have a paunch and his
clothes are eaten up, disintegrating. Across the aisle, a
dapper older man, EDWARD NEWGARDEN, is cleaning his glasses
while his partner, JONATHAN WAITS, pontificates.
WAITS:
It is precisely because PT Barnum
chose to name the elephant Jumbo
that the word has worked its way
into our lexicon. And what a name
for the beast. I saw him in
Boston. Tall as three men stood
end to end.
NEWGARDEN:
Standing on each other's shoulders
or stacked like pancakes?
WAITS:
A query with a sense of mocking
sarcasm. That's okay, Edward,
that's okay. But had you seen the
animal, this Jumbo the Elephant,
you would be a true believer in the
pioneering use of invention by
Barnum.
It wasn't enough that he found the
largest elephant, he also had to
give it the biggest name of the
day. And what was that name? Did
not exist, of course. So he coined
one.
GRISSOM:
Are you ladies going to talk all
the way to Cheyenne City?
WAITS looks to NEWGARDEN.
WAITS:
Well, we had planned to converse a
good part of the trip, to answer
your query on one level. But you
expanded the issue by inquiring
about a time parameter. Now, can
we honestly say that we will be
talking the entire time?
GRISSOM tosses his cigarette out the window.
GRISSOM:
Are you on your period? That why
you're jawing at each other?
WAITS:
Now that is laughable. My partner
here has barely entered the
conversation. As for a menstrual
cycle, I'm afraid that is a
biologic impossibility, much to our
delight. It appears to be a
dreadful monthly ritual for the
fairer sex.
NEWGARDEN:
What's your name?
GRISSOM:
What's yours?
WAITS:
(in stunned disbelief)
This is Edward Newgarden! The
Pistoleer of St. Louis! The Earl
of the East Plains!
GRISSOM:
Yeah? Well what are you doing
heading to Wyoming territory?
WAITS:
If I may answer for him: Mr.
Newgarden has been contracted by an
agent to provide a legal service to
a community.
GRISSOM:
You're guarding someone's gold?
WAITS:
Well, we would prefer not to get
into specifics.
(beat)
What is your name, sir?
GRISSOM BELCHES.
WAITS:
Was that with one "t" or two?
Joking, joking.
GRISSOM:
I've heard of Newgarden. I've
heard he's a swish. Thinks his
shit don't stink.
WAITS:
I'm not qualified to speculate on
the scent of offal.
GRISSOM:
I also hear that he can shoot a man
twice and return to holster before
the other man has drawn.
WAITS:
That, dear sir, is the truth.
GRISSOM stands and moves close into WAITS. WAITS leans back
and shoots NEWGARDEN a plea for help. NEWGARDEN throws his
long hair back over his shoulder and lets his coat hang open.
A revolver peeks out.
WAITS:
If there is a feud that I am not
aware of, or in any way connected
to-
GRISSOM:
(to NEWGARDEN)
How much for your friend here?
WAITS:
(laughing nervously)
Oh, I am not property, sir.
GRISSOM withdraws a revolver and puts the barrel against
WAITS' cheek.
GRISSOM:
He'd look real funny sucking my
dick with no teeth.
WAITS:
I'm afraid, sir, that my partner
will intervene soon and you will
find yourself in a, uh, dire
predicament.
GRISSOM:
He won't because he recognizes me.
And he don't want to get involved
in nothing I'm involved in.
WAITS:
Edward.
NEWGARDEN stands, a hand on his pistol. GRISSOM cocks the
pistol lodged into WAITS' cheek.
GRISSOM:
I'll ask again: How much for your
friend?
NEWGARDEN:
Would you be "Mean" Mike Grissom?
GRISSOM nods.
NEWGARDEN:
I'd be willing to let him go for
$150.
WAITS:
Edward, what are you-
NEWGARDEN:
But he won't be much good to you.
There's no bounty on his head.
GRISSOM:
(to WAITS)
You're not a gunslinger?
WAITS:
Me? Oh, lord no. I'm, I'm an
accountant! The Agency has
provided me as a, well not
particularly an escort, but-
GRISSOM:
(to NEWGARDEN)
You got a price on your head?
NEWGARDEN suddenly flashes his pistol out and FIRES A SHOT.
But GRISSOM was anticipating it and he drops to the floor
before it is fired. In a flash, he has his other pistol out
and, without taking aim off WAITS, has put a shot right up
the scalp of NEWGARDEN. There is SCREAMING as the four or
five others in the car make a run for the exit. NEWGARDEN is
stunned, frozen. There is smoke rising from his hair and an
ugly gash from the top of his forehead into his hair.
GRISSOM:
Damn. You got lucky, Newgarden.
Lost my aim in the fall.
NEWGARDEN falls backwards. GRISSOM becomes aware of a puddle
of water creeping in on him. He turns and looks. WAITS has
wet himself.
GRISSOM:
Sorry to bust your cherry.
WAITS:
You just shot Edward Newgarden!
GRISSOM:
He drew on me first.
GRISSOM stands and walks to the prostrate body. He takes the
guns and pulls out a small bag of gold nuggets.
WAITS:
Did you kill him?
GRISSOM:
(after a pause, as though
inconvenienced)
He'll live. Write down in your
ledger that I'm taking his gold.
If he wants it back, he can come
find me in Squalor.
But you let him know: If I see him
coming, I'm just gonna start
shooting and assume it's self
defense.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE CAJUN DAY
The town's deputies are gathered in strength around the
saloon. Gunfire rings out from the windows upstairs and the
deputies return fire. PASCAL is standing behind a cart a
little down the street. SAWYER walks up to him.
SAWYER:
Afternoon, Sheriff. Breaking up
the joint?
PASCAL:
You knew we'd have to, Sawyer. I
remember you being in the room at
the time.
SAWYER:
What's the news on Evers?
PASCAL:
They're building a coffin his size.
SAWYER:
How's a man that doesn't drink
going to fall off the ridge?
PASCAL:
Hell, I don't know, Sawyer. Late
at night, maybe he didn't see it.
SAWYER:
Moon was full last night for me.
Didn't you get the same?
The SHOOTING escalates.
PASCAL:
Jesus! Bryant's cutting off his
nose to spite his face here.
SAWYER:
Mr. Bryant will do what he wants,
when he wants. You still take your
marching orders from him.
PASCAL:
I just don't want to see nobody
killed is all.
SAWYER:
Thing about killing is: Once you've
done enough of it, it stops. Cuz
there ain't no one left to kill.
A prostitute runs out of the saloon and is shot square in the
head. She collapses backwards onto the wooden sidewalk.
PASCAL:
Damn, that was Rosy. We'll catch
hell for that.
A strange contingent appears at the end of the street. It is
PASTOR DAVE and a dozen or so of his followers. They are
marching up the street coldly, solemnly. As they get near
the saloon, the deputies hold their fire. There is no fire
from the saloon either.
PASCAL:
Pastor Dave! What are you doing
here?
PASTOR DAVE:
Sheriff Pascal, we are here in the
name and spirit of the lord Jesus
Christ.
PASCAL:
Well, I guess we all are. But why
are you interfering with-
PASTOR DAVE:
Look at this poor, dead woman on
the ground. You are all murderers.
PASCAL:
Hell, Pastor Dave, they're just
doing their job. Nobody meant to
shoot her. And what's one whore,
more or less?
PASTOR DAVE:
I regret that I was not able to
make a greater impact on Rosy's
life and turn her away from the sin
of prostitution. But was Mary
Magdalene not a prostitute? The
intent of the Lord is to heal and
give comfort.
To put to rest hatred and discord.
You are opening fresh wounds here,
Sheriff.
PASCAL does not know how to react. Finally, he says:
PASCAL:
You people are all in danger. You
should go home and lock the door.
PASTOR DAVE:
Go home? We ARE home, Sheriff.
This is our town.
SAWYER decides to intercede. He gets between PASTOR DAVE and
PASCAL.
SAWYER:
Maybe he's right, Sheriff. Maybe
your boys should pick up and head
back to the jail.
PASCAL:
We're right in the middle of-
SAWYER:
The point's been made. Only thing
that can result now is more blood.
PASTOR DAVE:
Jesus shed his blood to save you,
Sheriff. Will you honor his
sacrifice?
PASCAL stares at him for a second and then turns to face his
men. He turns back to SAWYER.
PASCAL:
You sure we can go?
SAWYER:
Yes.
PASCAL:
(to his men)
C'mon boys! We're done here!
(back to SAWYER)
You'd better square this with
Bryant. I'm not being reamed on
account of you.
SAWYER:
(loud enough for PASTOR
DAVE'S flock to hear)
I didn't save you this day, the
Lord did.
FLOCK:
Praise Jesus.
The deputies and PASCAL begin to filter out. People walk out
of the Cajun. SAWYER enters it. He finds PATTERSON sitting
on a stool near an overturned table. Two armed men flank
him.
SAWYER:
Sorry for the mess, Patterson.
PATTERSON:
Sorry ain't gonna bring nobody
back.
SAWYER:
You lose any in here?
PATTERSON makes a dismissive gesture with his hand.
SAWYER:
Don't you care?
PATTERSON:
(looking deep into his
eyes)
I wasn't the one that come in and
start shooting.
(beat)
How much you owe me now, Sawyer?
SAWYER:
I'm paying you off, aren't I?
PATTERSON:
Mayhap that pretty young thing
you're with could pay some too.
SAWYER:
Then again, it might be easier to
give you the big payoff.
He taps a finger on the butt of his revolver. The armed men
pull their pistols and aim at him.
SAWYER:
I didn't come in here to get shot.
SAWYER turns and begins to leave but PATTERSON stops him.
PATTERSON:
Son, you're in a whole heap of
trouble.
SAWYER notices that the whole front of the building is
riddled with bullet holes that let the light in. He turns
back to PATTERSON.
SAWYER:
You're in it with me, Patterson.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE CAJUN DAY
SAWYER walks out of the hole-ridden door and pauses on the
wooden sidewalk. He looks around. The sun is beginning to
set. There is still a crowd milling around. He decides to
address them.
SAWYER:
By the order of Mayor Leake, this
establishment is closed.
Some stay and watch him, others straggle off to the next
saloon, the Gulch.
CUT TO:
INT. SAWYER'S ROOM AFTERNOON
ELEANOR lays on the bed, a wet washcloth over her forehead.
SAWYER is staring out the window.
ELEANOR:
It's a special sort of place. They
treat the TB there. It's in west
Texas, near New Mexico Territory.
So it's a desert climate. That's
good for-
SAWYER:
Did you even think to ask me to go
with you?
This freezes her.
ELEANOR:
It will be for several months.
SAWYER:
There's dangerous men coming to
town. If I didn't owe Bryant my
life-
ELEANOR:
There's killing coming. You're
good at that.
SAWYER:
Yeah, well, I've always been good
at that.
ELEANOR:
Are you drunk?
He turns on her. Sees the empty glass next to the bed.
SAWYER:
(just as mean)
How's the headache?
There is a long pause.
SAWYER:
I'm sorry. I know Doc Abner
wouldn't give you nothing that you
don't need. You're not like the
others, Eleanor. There's something
special about you. And sometimes I
get scared of how I feel. It
brings out...
ELEANOR:
The dark side?
SAWYER:
A man's only got one side.
ELEANOR:
What about Pastor Dave?
SAWYER:
You can't change who you really
are.
ELEANOR:
I love you, Sawyer.
(beat)
What are you thinking about?
SAWYER:
A dream I had.
ELEANOR:
Yeah?
SAWYER:
I was up near the ridge, roasting
potatoes over a fire. And a spark
jumped out and lit my coat.
ELEANOR:
So you threw it off. But when you
did, you saw it wasn't a coat no
more. It was something else.
Something dangerous. A snake
maybe.
SAWYER:
No. I didn't throw it off. And it
wasn't a snake. I just burned up
there. Half the town was out
watching me. They just let me
burn.
ELEANOR:
Is Bryant going to look after
Stanz?
SAWYER:
Mmmmm.
ELEANOR:
Don't ever let on more than you
half to.
SAWYER:
Now's a good time to go. It'll
spare you what happens here.