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Black Heart_Michelle Petty & Vicki Gentes

Victor, a rancher, is trying to establish his ranch but his wife Elizabeth wants to return to the city. Their son Ben rebels against his mother. Amy runs a brothel to support her uncle Sheriff Miles and her ward Sarah. When a man named Riley harasses Sarah, Amy threatens him with a knife. Later, Victor is transfixed by Amy when he sees her in town.

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BLACK HEART Written by Michelle Petty & Vicki Gentes Michelleatobx@aol.com/Vpg133@yahoo.com Phone: (252) 256-1922/ (252) 489-3391
FADE IN: EXT. LATE 1800’S BROTHEL - DAY ELAINE, a stouthearted, robust, middle-aged woman sits on the stoop fanning herself. DAN, a blind, middle-aged man sits beside her. KYLE, a young man in a suit, approaches with flowers. ELAINE Oh Lord. Here comes another one. DAN One what? ELAINE A suitor for Amy. Don’t they know? DAN Know what? ELAINE That they are going to get shot down. Lucky for you, you don’t have to see it. It’s pathetic. Like watching a little baby lamb headin’ to slaughter. KYLE Howdy Miss Elaine, Dan, is Amy here? ELAINE Hi Kyle, yeah she is but maybe now is not such a good time? KYLE Yes Ma'am, but you said that last week too. ELAINE Oh did I? KYLE Yeah, you did... and I keep having to wash up-n-all and I picked the last of my mama’s nice flowers. DAN They smell good.
KYLE Yes Sir, thank you. So may I please go in and see her? ELAINE Okay, sure honey. Good luck. INT. WELL KEPT BROTHEL - MOMENTS LATER Kyle enters. AMY, a dispirited, twenty something, dark featured woman is tending bar. KYLE Howdy Amy. I mean good day... ma’am... I mean Amy. AMY Hi Kyle. Why are you dressed like that? Why do you have flowers? Did someone die? KYLE I don’t think anyone died. I just thought you might like some flowers. AMY No. I don’t. I don’t like flowers. The smell reminds me of a funeral. KYLE Oh, right, of course. I know that you have fallen on some hard times since your father’s passing and all. So I thought I’d ask you... Kyle gets down on one knee. AMY Oh no! KYLE If you... you might like to accompany me for some dinner or a stroll along the river? AMY Is that all? KYLE Well, I guess, unless there is something else you might like to do. 2.
AMY Then why are you on the floor? Get up! Kyle stands. AMY (CONT’D) No. KYLE No what? Not at the river? AMY No. No walk. No flowers. No dinner. No to it all! Please leave. EXT. FRONT STOOP - MOMENTS LATER Kyle dejected, hands the flowers to Elaine. She smells them. Kyle leaves. Elaine tosses the flowers into a nearby barrel filled with old bouquets. ELAINE Lord, it’s gonna take a force of nature to crack that shell. EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN - DAY The sun blazes as a small posse of cowboys approach town. Two men, LANNY and RILEY lead the group. Lanny, once refined is now rough around the edges. Riley, suffers from Tourette’s syndrome, his body and face move with ticks and twitches. LANNY My God! It’s as hot as a whorehouse on nickel night. I can’t wait to get off of this fucking horse. RILEY Do nnnnott use the gggg..good lords name in vain. LANNY Don’t start up with that religious shit again Riley. What you tellin’ me you ain't up for some whiskey and some women? 3.
RILEY Nnno, I mean yyyes, I sssuppose so. LANNY Good. Then my God, shut the fuck up for once. And that might just happen. The posse continues towards town. EXT. HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN - DAY BURT, a fat bully and coward, stands on his porch, and lights a pipe. He watches Lanny and Riley as they tie their horses up outside the brothel. LANNY How much dinero you got? Riley guards his pocket defensively. RILEY Eeeenough, why? LANNY Cause you owe me for saving your damn life again. Lanny forcefully takes Riley’s money. LANNY (CONT’D) Thank you kindly. Suddenly, two men in a heated struggle, fall through the doors of the brothel, rolling past Lanny and Riley who are not fazed. Burt, still watching, WHISTLES waving Lanny and Riley over. EXT. SMALL HORSE RANCH - EVENING VICTOR LAWSON, a rugged man in his early forties, is skillfully breaking in a mare. BEN, a young man of twenty, assists. VICTOR Whoa, whoa, down girl. BEN She is a proud one eh? 4.
VICTOR Yeah, she’s hard to break. The horse calms. VICTOR (CONT’D) There, she’s learning to trust us. SCOUT, a four year old boy watches on. While WILL, a teenage boy, sits back from the action sketching a masterpiece. SCOUT You did it Pop! VICTOR Yeah, your old man’s still got it. A woman appears at the front door of the humble ranch house. ELIZABETH is overdressed. She catches Will’s eye and motions him in. Will WHISTLES rounding up the rest of the group. INT. VICTOR LAWSON’S FARM HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER The family gathers for dinner. The house is modest in size but lavishly decorated. Elizabeth smiles and looks around the table until she gets to Ben. ELIZABETH Benjamin, I do not understand why you defy me. All I requested was you wash up for dinner. Ben reaches over the table for some bread. Victor grabs Ben’s hand sternly. He drops the loaf. VICTOR Son, go wash up. Ben leaves the room. The rest of the family eats in SILENCE. Ben returns, clean. He glares at his mother as he sits. ELIZABETH Will drew the most magnificent landscape today. You have outdone yourself again Will. I believe your art will grace the walls of a fine museum one day. The boys scarf down their food, uninterested. Ben, stops eating. 5.
ELIZABETH (CONT’D) Yes, Benjamin? BEN I don’t know what world you’re livin’ in Mother but I have not seen any art museums around here lately. ELIZABETH Why do you speak to me with such disrespect? Ben jumps up from his chair. WILL Ben, stop. VICTOR Son, sit down. Ben points to the china cabinet. BEN No really Mother, look at all this hoity toity stuff. Have you looked out the window lately? We’re not living in Paris or New York City or some fancy place like that. Elizabeth tears up. Scout climbs into her lap. ELIZABETH If you don’t like our fine home, you may leave. Ben goes to exit, catching his reflection in the glass of one of Will’s framed drawings. He punches the picture SHATTERING the glass. He leaves SLAMMING the door. INT. BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER Elizabeth sits on the bed SOBBING. Victor enters and leans against the dresser. ELIZABETH I’m tired Victor. It is quite the undertaking to maintain such a fine home for you and the boys. I disdain this town and all the deadbeats in it. And Benjamin, he is starting to turn into one of them. (MORE) 6.
You promised if we did not have the ranch up and going by now we would move back to Richmond. VICTOR I realize it has taken a lot longer than expected, but you have to be patient with things like this. ELIZABETH Patient? I have been more than patient! Honestly, Victor I do not understand why you insist on staying here. Victor shrugs his shoulders and looks out the window. INT. BROTHEL - NIGHT Amy is tending bar. Lanny’s posse are drinking, smoking, playing poker, and flirting with the whores. Elaine watches everyone like a mother hen. Dan is PLAYING the piano. SARAH, a blonde and moody teenage girl, is wiping off tables. Riley watches Sarah like prey and begins to twitch. Ben has joined Lanny and Riley’s posse. They are all intoxicated and having a good time. RILEY (Outburst) Tits! Shit! Ben leans in to Lanny. BEN Why does he keep doing that? LANNY Awe, he can’t help it none. He is always like that. It just gets worse when he’s on a bender. BEN Is he on a bender now? LANNY Yeah, he’s as full as a tic... Hey, we’re planning on headin’ out in a couple of days if you’re serious about lighting a shuck. Me and my partners here just have a bit of business to wind up first. ELIZABETH (CONT'D) 7.
BEN Yeah, I’m serious. The sooner the better. Riley stumbles over to Sarah. RILEY Varmint! Stink! Sarah is startled. Riley grabs her. SARAH Let me go! What are you doing?! RILEY Come on girl, I want a poke at you. The posse is amused. LANNY I swear that boy’s dumb as a rock. Amy takes notice of the commotion and runs over to help. Amy punches Riley. Sarah, now free, slides in behind her. AMY This girl is not for sale! Amy point to Elaine. AMY (CONT’D) Miss Elaine can find you one who is. Riley starts to shake. RILEY No..nnn..nno, I wwant thhis one. AMY Last time I’m gonna tell you. She is not for sale. RILEY Hell! Cock! Shit..cock shit! Riley grabs Amy by the throat and pins her to the wall. JOHNNY, the middle aged bartender, motions for a concerned patron to stand down. AMY This is my saloon and now I’m gonna have to ask you to leave. 8.
Riley smiles. Runs his tongue up her face. Amy slowly lifts the side of her skirt revealing a large, bead handled, knife fastened to her leg. She slides it from its sheath and presses the steel blade into his balls. AMY (CONT’D) With or without your two little friends here. Riley releases Amy and holds his balls. Amy escorts Sarah up the stairs, while signaling Johnny to ensure Riley leaves. Lanny stumbles up to Riley. LANNY You just keep holdin’ on to them there berries, cause that's the only play they’re gonna get tonight. INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER Sarah and Amy are in a room with two single beds. There is a photo of the two of them with an older man. SARAH You do not always have to come to my aid. I had the situation under control. AMY It did not appear so. SARAH Ever since father died you act like you are my mother and you’re not. AMY No, I am not. But I am the closes thing you have to one. Sarah throws a vase at Amy. She catches it. SARAH How would you know? Your mother was a whore! AMY I don’t care a continental what my mother was. 9.
SARAH Cause she was whore. AMY I know what’s best for you. SARAH You couldn’t possibly. My mother was a wholesome women and she loved me. AMY I love you. But sometimes I’m not sure why. Sarah lays on the bed and looks at the photo of their father. SARAH I’m sorry. I just miss him. Why is life so unfair? AMY Because it is. Do you think any of this is what I wanted for my life? INT. BROTHEL - DAY There are no customers. Amy counts a stack of cash behind the bar. Johnny is serving Dan whose eating lunch. Burt comes waltzing in. Dan SNIFFS the air. DAN Johnny, do you smell bacon and cheap cologne, or is that cat piss? JOHNNY Well friend that smell seems to be coming from our buddy Burp here, who has decided to grace us with his presence and subsequently his odor. Dan slides his food away. The group LAUGHS, except Burt. BURT Let’s get something straight, first of all its Burt, not Burp, I’m not your buddy, and I’m the one who is gonna be laughing if I don’t get my money by tomorrow night per our agreement. 10.
AMY You’ll get your money. BURT We’ll see, if not, this place will have new ownership. Burt smiles fiendishly and leaves. JOHNNY Smell you later. MILES, the town sheriff enters. JOHNNY (CONT’D) Howdy Sheriff. MILES Good day. Miles puts one hand on Dan’s back, Dan shakes his other. DAN How ya doin’ Miles? MILES Oh, I can’t complain. I just thought I’d stop in and check on my favorite niece. Was Burt bothering you? AMY He is always a bother. What was my father thinking borrowing money from that weasel? MILES My brother didn’t make the best decisions but lord knows his heart was always in the right place. DAN Amen. JOHNNY I’ll drink to that. Amy pours a round of shots. AMY Here’s to a good man who never stopped trying to be a better man. 11.
MEN Here, here... They all CLANK glasses and sling back their whiskey. EXT. MIDDLE OF TOWN - DAY Victor pulls into town on a carriage with Elizabeth, Will, and Scout. Will is sketching a picture of Sarah. They stop. Will aids Elizabeth and Scout down. Victor waits behind. INT. GENERAL STORE - MOMENTS LATER Will is gathering art supplies when he is alerted by Sarah’s presence. Sarah and Amy are admiring a necklace. SARAH I can’t believe it is still here. It’s so beautiful. AMY Come, we can’t afford such things. Unnoticed, Will’s eyes remain fixed on Sarah as she leaves. EXT. MIDDLE OF TOWN - MOMENTS LATER Victor spots Amy and Sarah strolling down the street. Time slows. He is transfixed on Amy until she is out of sight. Will, clutching a small package, startles Victor back to reality by jumping into the carriage. VICTOR Did you get what you wanted son? WILL (Devilishly) Yeah. VICTOR What is taking your mother so long? INT. GENERAL STORE - MOMENTS LATER The STORE CLERK is looking through a log book. 12.
STORE CLERK I’m sorry Mrs. Lawson, your materials didn't come in today. I’m sure they will be here tomorrow. ELIZABETH I certainly hope so. I will see you then. Elizabeth grabs Scout by the hand and storms out. EXT. MEADOW - NIGHT Will spreads out a quilt. A female figure approaches. WILL You came. SARAH Yes, but it wasn’t easy getting away from that house of hens. WILL But you always seem to manage. Will kisses her gently and lays her down on the blanket. WILL (CONT’D) I got something for you. SARAH What? For me? Will pulls out a gift wrapped box. SARAH (CONT’D) What is it? WILL Open it. Sarah opens the box, it is the necklace she had been admiring in the store earlier. Will puts it on her. SARAH How did you know? WILL I just thought it might complement your bright smile. 13.
They make sweet love. INT. BROTHEL - DAY Elaine is playing Texas Holdem with a few local cowboys. Dan is dealing, despite being blind he is doing a good job. Johnny is behind the bar. Elaine has a large pile of money and is reading everyone’s tell. COWBOY #1 picks up his cards. COWBOY #1 Damn it! DAN Nice poker face, are you in or not? COWBOY #1 Shit, I fold. COWBOY #2 assesses his hand. COWBOY #2 Hmmm, does the lady have it or not? Elaine begins to fan herself with her cards. ELAINE I’m feeling a little flushed. COWBOY #2 Ah, bullshit. Cowboy #2 goes all in. COWBOY #3 throws his cards down. COWBOY #3 I’m out. Elaine matches the pot. ELAINE Let the best man win. Dan deals revealing a low spade then a diamond. ELAINE (CONT’D) What do you have there buddy boy? They each reveal their hands. They both have a flush but Elaine wins with the higher card. She lets out a hardy LAUGH. 14.
DAN What? What happened? COWBOY #1 Well it looks like my boy here just got spanked by a middle aged whore. COWBOY #3 Isn’t the first time. COWBOY #1 True, but I bet it ain’t never cost that much before. Elaine gathers the money and stuffs it into her bustle. ELAINE Nice doing business with you. Cowboy #2 kicks over his chair and takes a seat at the bar. Johnny pours him a drink JOHNNY Bend an elbow. This one’s on me. INT. VICTOR LAWSON’S FARM HOUSE - DAY Ben is packing a duffel bag. He checks the clock then leaves. INT. GENERAL STORE - MOMENTS LATER Elizabeth and Scout are shopping. Amy is also shopping and oblivious to their presence. ELIZABETH Scout darling, please put that down and accompany me over here. Amy is now alerted to, and interested in Elizabeth. INT. BURT’S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER Burt is standing in a second story window. He checks his pocket watch, puffs his pipe, and peeks out the window. INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER Miles and his DEPUTY are kicked back at their desks. 15.
EXT. BEHIND THE BROTHEL - MOMENTS LATER Lanny, Riley, and their posse ride up. They fasten bandanas around their faces. One man, ZANE, a dark and cold man, refuses. They all file into the brothel with their guns drawn. Zane makes his way up the stairs. LANNY Everyone kindly, get down on the fucking floor! Now! Everyone drops except for Dan. Riley is agitated by this. RILEY Fffu..fucc..fuucckking..Get down! LANNY Forget about him. Just Get everyone’s loot! Lanny forces Johnny up and toward the cash register. LANNY (CONT’D) Empty it. Riley goes through everyone’s pockets to claim their wallets, until he gets to Elaine. RILEY You.. you got any pockets? Riley goes to frisk Elaine. She smacks his hands away. ELAINE Watch it buddy. That kind of action will cost you. Riley flustered moves along. Elaine pushes a bill peeking out back into her cleavage. Johnny inadvertently cuts his eyes to a small box. LANNY Well, well, well, what do we have here? Lanny cocks his pistol. LANNY (CONT’D) Pick it up. Johnny picks up the box. 16.
LANNY (CONT’D) Open it. Johnny opens the box revealing a large stack of money. Lanny grabs the money and throws it into a bag. He calls up the stairs to Zane. LANNY (CONT’D) Get the girl and pony up! Time lapses. LANNY (CONT’D) Come on fellows, let’s go! The posse files out. LANNY (CONT’D) Where the hell is Zane? INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER Zane is ransacking the room. Sarah and a couple of whores are huddled in the corner. Zane spots the photograph of Amy with her dad and Sarah. He picks it up. Zane pulls Sarah out of the heap by her hair. ZANE Where is your sister? SARAH She is not here. I don’t know where she is. Sarah faints. Zane catches her. He cuts the gifted necklace off her and lets her DROP to the floor. Zane makes his way out and down the stairs. He FIRES his gun. A chandelier come CRASHING down. Dan, startled, pulls a gun FIRING nowhere near Zane. Zane LAUGHS and exits. EXT. BEHIND THE BROTHEL - MOMENTS LATER LANNY Well, where is she? ZANE She’s not here. 17.
LANNY God damit! That fat bastard said she’d be here! RILEY Yyyou.. used.. LANNY Not now Riley. Fuck! Well, we got our loot. Let’s skedaddle! The posse rides off. INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER Miles hears GUNFIRE. He and the deputy arm themselves. The room is suddenly SPRAYED with gunfire as the posse passes outside. Miles is hit in the arm. EXT. MIDDLE OF TOWN - MOMENTS LATER As the posse rides through town, Zane sees Amy through the window of the General Store. He aims to shoot her. INT. GENERAL STORE - MOMENTS LATER Amy stands in line. Elizabeth is in line behind her holding Scout. Scout DROPS some change. Zane FIRES. Amy bends down to pick up the fallen change. The bullet blazes through the window, Scout’s back, and into Elizabeth’s heart. They DROP. Amy SCREAMS. EXT. MIDDLE OF TOWN - MOMENTS LATER Ben rides up to see the posse riding away. He hears SCREAMING. The store clerk carries the lifeless bodies into the street. Ben runs up and grabs them both and collapses. BEN No. Oh God, no. Ben SCREAMS. It ECHOES off into the distance. Then SILENCE. 18.
INT. BROTHEL - DAY Johnny and Elaine, both in black, are cleaning up the shattered bar. Burt enters, his STEPS fill the silence. BURT I see you are in your best bib and tucker. You all headin’ somewhere? SILENCE. BURT (CONT’D) What no chit chat today? As promised I’m here to collect my debt or collect my saloon. Which is it gonna be? Elaine stops and stares Burt down. BURT (CONT’D) It was unfortunate though, to hear those bandits took you for all you have. What a shame. Burt gets in Johnny’s face. Johnny puffs up. BURT (CONT’D) What’s wrong funny guy? Cat got your tongue? Elaine breaks in the middle of the men. ELAINE I know you are behind this Burt Myers. You had better watch your back and sleep with one eye open because when you’re not looking, Satan himself will be coming for you and your pathetic little soul. Burt leans back. Elaine leans in closer. ELAINE (CONT’D) Amy! There’s a rat here to see you. Amy enters stunning in black with a confident demeanor. BURT It’s pay day. AMY You know I don’t have it. We were robbed. 19.
BURT Oh no. Well we both know what that means. AMY It means you’re an asshole. ELAINE Stop. I’ll handle this. Elaine reaches into her cleavage and pulls out a wad of cash. ELAINE (CONT’D) Here’s you money asshole. Elaine SMACKS the cash into Burt’s chest. He instinctively catches most of it. Elaine throws Burt out onto the street. She gathers a few missed bills and throws them out after him. ELAINE (CONT’D) It’s all there dickless! Amy and Johnny are shocked. ELAINE (CONT’D) What? Do you think I stay here for the money? Please. JOHNNY Just when I think I know you... AMY Thank you. JOHNNY Come on ladies, we have a funeral to attend. AMY On second thought, I’m just gonna stay here and clean up. ELAINE Are you sure honey? AMY Yeah, you all just go on with out me and give Victor my best. ELAINE I think it would mean a lot more coming from you. He was there for you once... remember? 20.
AMY Yes, I remember. I just can’t... EXT. VICTOR LAWSON’S RANCH - DAY Elizabeth and Scout are dressed in their finest and nestled together in a single coffin. Victor and Ben stand stoically. Will is shaken and holds Sarah’s hand. REVEREND JOSEPH, closes his bible and looks down in prayer. REVEREND JOSEPH Amen. EVERYONE Amen. Reverend Joseph approaches Victor. REVEREND JOSEPH May the love of Christ be with you, to comfort you and guide you, during this trying time. Victor shakes the Reverend’s hand. REVEREND JOSEPH (CONT’D) Take solace in knowing that they are together, safe, and eternal in his all mighty kingdom. VICTOR (Knowingly agrees) Yes. Ben stares down at the coffin as it is being lowered into the ground. He suddenly launches, throwing himself over the wooden box. He begins to BEAT on it. BEN No. Please. Victor waves the crowd, forming, off. VICTOR Ben, it will be okay. BEN No, it wont. Can’t you see? They’re gone. Victor places a strong hand on Ben’s back. Ben stands. 21.
BEN (CONT’D) I’m gonna kill those sons of bitches! I swear. I am. I’m gonna find’em and I am gonna kill every last one of’em. VICTOR And what good would that do? BEN What good would it do? It would guarantee those bastards would never hurt anyone again, that’s what good it would do! VICTOR I suppose so, but it won’t bring them back son. And you would forever have to live with the murder of those men on your soul. Trust me, I know it’s a heavy burden for a good man’s heart to carry. BEN Are you saying we should let those murderers get away with what they did?! VICTOR No, the law will be after them. And God, he has his own plan. I know this is hard for you to understand right now. Hell, it’s hard for us all to understand.. BEN Yeah, cause it’s bullshit. VICTOR One of the toughest challenges in life is not letting the evil in this world turn you into exactly what you hate. BEN Killin em’ is not gonna make me one of em. VICTOR I beg to differ. BEN What do you know of it anyway? 22.
VICTOR More than you think. MONTAGE: Victor deep in thought sitting on his bed. Ben working his hands bloody in the stables. Will sits by the headstone of his mother’s grave sketching. Victor receives a letter. Victor’s bedroom is bare. He packs a box with one of Scout’s toys and a picture of Elizabeth. EXT. RIVER - DAY Amy is fishing off the bank. Victor approaches. VICTOR I thought I might find you here. AMY This place holds a lot of fond memories. VICTOR You know Amy, what happened was not your fault. Victor sits alongside Amy. AMY I don’t know, sometimes I would see her around town and secretly wonder why you were with her. I’m sorry. VICTOR Sorry about what? AMY I don’t know, everything I guess. VICTOR Amy, it’s okay, I know that you are not good with things like this. Amy keeps her gaze fixed on the water. VICTOR (CONT’D) We’re leaving Amy. 23.
Amy finally gives him the first look. AMY What? What do you mean? VICTOR I mean, me and the boys are moving. AMY Where? VICTOR Montana. AMY Montana? Why? VICTOR Well, in light of the news of Elizabeth and Scouts passing, my brother, Robert has sent word that his ranch in Montana is in need of some extra hands. AMY So you’re leaving to help your brother? VICTOR Yes, there’s that and I think my boys need a change of scenery. It will be good for us all to be around family right now. AMY Will you be returning? VICTOR No. I don’t think so. AMY What about Sarah? You know she adores Will. VICTOR Since when have you wanted those two to be together? I thought you would at least be pleased about that. Amy looks away again. 24.
VICTOR (CONT’D) It’s young love. They will get over it. AMY Will I? VICTOR What? AMY I mean, will they? VICTOR Sure they will. You remember what that’s like don’t you? AMY No. I don’t. VICTOR (Knowingly) Right, you never had that luxury. AMY No. I didn’t. When are you leaving? VICTOR Tomorrow. AMY Tomorrow? Victor stands and helps Amy to her feet. VICTOR Yes, but before I go. I wanted to leave you with something. Victor caresses Amy’s face and kisses her. INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - MORNING Amy is having a horrific nightmare. She WHIMPERS. FLASHBACK: 15 YEARS EARLIER INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - NIGHT Amy is a young girl. She is in a nightgown pretending to be asleep. The room is filled with dim light and smoke. 25.
Her mother CHARITY is at a nearby table drinking whiskey. Amy peeks up at her mother with one eye. CHARITY What are you looking at? AMY Mommy, aren’t you gonna sleep? There is a KNOCK at the door. Charity opens it. It is two dirty cowboys. DIRTY COWBOY #1 is holding a bag. CHARITY Did you get it? DIRTY COWBOY #1 Yeah, not so quick. Where is the little filly you promised? Charity opens the door wide revealing little Amy. DIRTY COWBOY #2 You’re right. She is a pretty little thing. DIRTY COWBOY #1 Sweet meat. Just how I like em’. The men enter. Amy SCREAMS. RETURN TO PRESENT. INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - MORNING Sarah is trying to wake Amy from her nightmare. SARAH Wake up. Amy wake up! Miss Elaine! Help! Elaine comes running in. ELAINE Oh my, how long has she been like this? SARAH I don’t know. I just woke up to find her this way. 26.
ELAINE Here, move. I know what to do. Elaine cradles Amy. She rocks her gently and SINGS her a lullaby. Amy is now peaceful. ELAINE (CONT’D) Hand me that blanket. Elaine covers Amy. ELAINE (CONT’D) (Whispering) She’s okay. SARAH What was that? ELAINE Just a bad dream honey. She used to get them a lot as a child. SARAH I wonder what sparked that? ELAINE Come. Let’s let her rest. They exit. Rain begins to POUR against the window. Amy awakens. She goes to the window. She sees Victor, Ben, and Will outside the brothel with their packed wagon. Sarah runs up and embraces Will. They say their good-byes. Victor senses Amy and looks toward her window. She hides. Amy stays hidden until the WAGON pulls away. EXT. GREAT PLAINS - DAY Lanny, Zane, and a few posse members gather for coffee. Riley is asleep holding a worn bible to his chest. LANNY I reckon that storm will be upon us here soon if we don’t get a move on. ZANE Yep. 27.
LANNY I was thinking it’s about a half a day’s ride to the next town. Lanny points to the foothills of the Rockies. LANNY (CONT’D) If we follow that there ridge north, we will cross a river, we can water our horses there, then pick up the rail headed west. That will take us into the next town. And the way I figure, we have scored us enough loot to have us a real fine time. The posse begin to load up on their horses. POSSE MEMBER #1 You ain’t worried about the law catching up with us none? LANNY I don’t think they are gonna spend much time fetching a pocket full of whore house money. POSSE MEMBER #2 I think he is talking about Zane burning a hole through that woman and her boy. POSSE MEMBER #1 Yeah, ain’t many folks gonna take kindly to no baby killer. LANNY What boy? POSSE MEMBER #2 You know, in that store, I saw em, it blazed right through em! Lanny looks at Zane who is now mounted on his horse. LANNY Baby killin’ was never discussed in our arrangement. Zane draws his gun on Lanny. 28.
ZANE Yeah, you’re right, but neither was listening to that retard of yours babbling all the fucking time. Lanny puts his hands up defensively and kicks Riley. He doesn’t wake. ZANE (CONT’D) I’ll be taking your stash there. Lanny hands him a satchel. ZANE (CONT’D) Thank you, kindly. You are right, this should render a real fine time. Zane looks to the foothills as the storm closes in. ZANE (CONT’D) So about a half a day’s ride huh? Well then, I don’t see any need to carry all this here baggage. Zane SHOOTS many posse members. Lanny takes cover. Riley is startled awake, he stands with a morning woody and his bible. Zane aims to shoot Riley in the head. Riley looks down at his erection. This momentarily distracts Zane. Riley chucks his bible knocking Zane’s gun to the ground. Lanny retrieves it. Zane draws a second weapon. There is a SHOOT out. Zane retreats on his horse. Lanny and Riley are the last men standing. The rest of the posse and all the horses are dead. THUNDER CLAPS and rain begins to pour down. INT. BROTHEL - MORNING Amy enters the bar from a back room. Elaine is at the bar smoking a cigar. AMY Good morning. Elaine blows out a large bellow of smoke. ELAINE Good morning. Elaine takes another puff and blows it in Amy’s face. 29.
AMY It’s a little early for that isn’t it? And since when have you started smoking? Elaine extinguishes the cigar. ELAINE Oh honey, I’m not smoking. AMY Then what are you doing? Amy starts to wipe the bar down with a towel. ELAINE Well, I am sitting here taking stock of the last time I saw Sarah up and about. You know she has done nothing but sleep in that bed since her little artist boyfriend left town. AMY So, she is taking it hard. Elaine SCREECHES her stool back. She grabs the towel out of Amy’s hand and the extinguished cigar butt. ELAINE I’m not so sure. I seem to have another theory. AMY What are you talking about? ELAINE Just follow me. Elaine climbs the stair case with Amy one step behind. She pauses outside of Sarah’s bedroom door. Elaine hands Amy the towel and the cigar butt. AMY What are we doing up here? ELAINE Just follow my lead. Elaine cocks her leg and KICKS the door wide open. 30.
INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER Elaine rushes to Sarah’s bedside where she is sleeping. ELAINE Wake up! Elaine pulls Sarah up and out of bed. SARAH What do you want? Elaine looks Sarah in the eyes, she then moves her gaze down to Sarah’s breast, Elaine cups them both and squeezes. SARAH (CONT’D) Owe! Stop. What is wrong with you?! Elaine cuts her eyes to Amy, grabs the cigar butt, and wafts it under Sarah’s nose. Sarah dry heaves instantly. Elaine swiftly takes the towel from Amy, she cradles it under Sarah’s face. Sarah vomits into it. Elaine gathers the corners of the towel and hands it back to Amy. Amy takes it. ELAINE Yeah, just as I suspected. She’s got a bun it that oven. AMY Is this true Sarah? Is that even possible? SARAH Yes. I suppose so. ELAINE Oh boy... or girl. Sarah looks down and holds her belly amazed. INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - NIGHT Sarah is sleeping soundly. Amy is restless. Amy lights a lantern and opens an old trunk. Amy pulls out a worn cowboy hat. She tries it on. She then takes out a pair of boots. She lifts her foot to the sole to find they are a good fit. Amy takes out a worn leather jacket and then a gun belt and holster with two pistols. 31.
She is, now wearing the cowboy gear and goes over to a full length mirror. She mimics a manly stance and then draws the pistols with much skill and precision. Amy returns to the chest. At the bottom is a journal. She reads it cover to cover, experiencing a gamut of emotions. Inside the back cover she finds a photo of her father on a horse, a map, and a yellow feather. INT. BROTHEL - NIGHT Elaine is armed with a shot gun. She aims it down the stairs at the figure of a cowboy. ELAINE Excuse me cowboy, can I help you? Elaine tightens her finger against the trigger. ELAINE (CONT’D) If you’d like to keep your head. I suggest you answer me cowboy. The figure removes its hat. AMY (Whispering) Elaine, it’s me Amy! ELAINE What the hell are you doing dressed like that? I almost blew your head off! AMY Shhh, get down here before you wake the whole house. Elaine throws the gun over her shoulder and saunters down. She sizes up Amy and pours herself a shot. She slings it back. ELAINE I think I’m gonna need another. AMY Give me that. Amy confiscates the bottle. ELAINE Okay sugar, what’s goin’ on? 32.
AMY It’s Sarah. I think about her and how she is stuck in this town, how she hasn’t had the chance to live, you know, really live. And now she is pregnant with a bastard child, alone, and heartbroken. What kind of a life is that? Elaine grabs the bottle and swigs off the top. ELAINE Yeah, sounds like a bum rap. But, the last I checked she seemed pretty happy about this baby and content on the fact that Will said he’d be back for her one day. Okay, problem solved. Now stand down cowboy and let’s go get some sleep. Amy twists her hair up and puts on the cowboy hat. AMY No. You don’t get it. Something more has got to be out there waiting for her. So I am going to go and find Will and tell him about this baby. I am going to fix this. ELAINE Now hold on just a minute. You never let those two spend any time together, so why do you care now? AMY I don’t know. I just do. ELAINE Okay? I’m not so sure you are talking about Sarah, honey. This wouldn’t have anything to do with Victor would it? I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. I know you are just friendly folk and all but there is no hiding from chemistry like that. Although I am not sure it’s worth dying over. Amy starts to leave. AMY Elaine, all I know is that I have to go. I can’t stay here any longer. (MORE) 33.
I’d rather go out there and die than to be trapped here for one more day not living. ELAINE Oh, I see. Okay then. Amy heads towards the alley. Elaine grabs the shotgun and follows her out. EXT. BEHIND THE BROTHEL - NIGHT In the alley stands a old worn down horse. Amy mounts the horse it makes an odd NOISE in response. ELAINE So, what is your plan? AMY Well, me and Molly here... Amy PATS the side of the horse. ELAINE Don’t do that. You might break her hip. AMY We plan on heading due west, picking up the range and following the river north towards Montana. I should make pretty good time... ELAINE Not on that crow bait... AMY ... and I could catch up with Victor and his boys. I’m thinking, oh maybe within a week’s time. ELAINE You’re gonna die. You know that don’t you? Elaine slides the shotgun into Amy’s bed roll, then starts to pull Amy down. AMY Stop. Let me go! I can do this! AMY (CONT'D) 34.
ELAINE Not on that geriatric nag you can’t. Now get down. Amy dismounts. Elaine starts to mount Molly somewhat unsuccessfully. AMY What are you doing? ELAINE Just help me. Amy pushes Elaine’s behind with both hands. Elaine adjusts herself and grabs the reins. ELAINE (CONT’D) Wait here, I’ll be back shortly. It takes Elaine some effort to get Molly going. They ride off, slowly, down the dark alley. INT. BEDROOM UNKNOWN FARM HOUSE - NIGHT FREDDIE, a man who is almost bald, sleeps next to a burly woman. Elaine slowly crawls into the room, to Freddie’s bedside. ELAINE Psssst. Elaine shakes Freddie. ELAINE (CONT’D) Psssst. Freddie. FREDDIE Not now Margaret. ELAINE Freddie it’s me Elaine. Freddie sits up with a smile. FREDDIE What are you doing here? If my wife sees you she’s gonna kill me. ELAINE I need you. Now. Meet me at the barn. 35.
Elaine crawls away. Freddie slicks down a couple of lone, stray hairs. INT. BARN - NIGHT Elaine has Molly tied up inside. She is brushing the mane of a gorgeous white stallion. Freddie, behind Elaine, throws his arms around her. FREDDIE Oh Elaine, I was hoping you’d come to me. ELAINE Freddie, a woman with my animal like desires cannot resist a man of your prowess. Elaine turns towards Freddie and starts to brush his hairs. ELAINE (CONT’D) I want you, I want you real bad. Freddie starts to remove his britches. Elaine stops him. ELAINE (CONT’D) Just not right now. FREDDIE But why not? We are so good at it. ELAINE Yes we are darling but it will just have to wait. I need a favor. FREDDIE Anything for you Elaine. EXT. BEHIND THE BROTHEL - NIGHT Amy is pacing. She hears GALLOPING hooves approaching. Elaine rides up on a white stallion loaded with gear. Elaine, dwarfed by the stallion, stops in front of Amy and slides down off the side of the horse. AMY Where is Molly? ELAINE This is your horse now. Get on! 36.
AMY What? But how? Amy mounts the horse, sizing up the beautiful animal. Elaine hands Amy the reins. ELAINE Honey, how many times have I told you, be good at what you do, well let’s just say I take those words to heart. Amy looks like a cowboy mounted on the stallion. Elaine takes notice of Amy’s beautiful face and her girly hands. Elaine pulls a pair of gloves and a bandana out of the horse’s satchel. ELAINE (CONT’D) Here, put these on. Amy does as told. ELAINE (CONT’D) Wait something is missing. Elaine rolls off one of her stockings and rolls it into a ball. She hands it to Amy. ELAINE (CONT’D) Here, shove this into the front of your pants. Lord knows you have some big balls right now, but let’s create the visual effect to go with em. Amy complies. AMY Elaine, I just want you to know... Elaine hears a NOISE in the distance. ELAINE Someone is coming... Elaine SMACKS the horse’s rear end. ELAINE (CONT’D) Hey ya! The horse takes off like a rocket. Amy’s hat falls over her eyes. 37.
AMY’S POV: It is black. Amy is deafened by the sound of her BREATHING and the rhythmic DRUMMING of the horse’s hooves. She gains control of the reins and lifts the brim of her hat. She looks at the sunrise on the broad horizon. EXT. GREAT PLAINS - MORNING Victor rides alongside the wagon. Ben is at the reins. Will is asleep next to him. Victor spots something. VICTOR Hold on. You stay here. I’m gonna go scout it out. Ben stops the wagon and sits back. Victor gets closer. It’s the carnage of Lanny’s dead posse. He dismounts and assesses the scene. There are several shell casings and one set of hoof tracts headed west. Ben approaches in the wagon. VICTOR (CONT’D) It looks like this gang of cowboys must have had some sort of altercation. Ben stops the wagon. VICTOR (CONT’D) It seems the culprit took off by horseback, headed west. There were two survivors, who headed in the same direction, together, on foot. Victor kicks one of the dead cowboys over revealing his face. Ben takes notice. He jumps down and joins his father. Ben covers his nose and looks at the dead man with disdain. VICTOR (CONT’D) Son, do you know this man? BEN No, I’ve never seen him before in my life. Now let’s get out of here. VICTOR Sure, right after we bury these here boys. Fetch us a couple of shovels. 38.
BEN I’m not burying any of these assholes. If they were dumb enough to die out here, then let the vultures have at em. VICTOR We are gonna give these boys a proper burial. Now get the shovels. Ben heads to the back of the wagon and grabs two shovels. He throws one to Victor and swings the other hitting Will. BEN Wake up! WILL What is going on? BEN Our father wants to bury some deadbeats. So it’s your time to man up and stop being so useless. WILL What are you taking about? BEN Oh, I don’t know. Why don’t you dig a few graves... Ben jumps in the carriage. BEN (CONT’D) While I sit up here and draw a picture of it. Ben grabs Will’s sketch pad and pencil. BEN (CONT’D) Go ahead, start diggin, this is gonna be my masterpiece. Will jumps down. Grabs the shovel. And joins his father digging. LATER: They have buried all the men and are drinking some water. Ben, still sitting in the carriage has in fact been drawing. He has sketched a picture of Zane, Lanny, and Riley. He tears the paper from the pad and puts it in his pocket. 39.
EXT. GREAT PLAINS - DAY Amy is riding along, taking in the scenery. She spots a small pond and stops to water her horse. Amy is wading in the water when she spots an approaching rider. She quickly exits and dons her hat and bandana. The approaching rider picks up speed. One of his arms is in a sling. MILES Howdy. AMY (Deep voice) Howdy. MILES It’s a pretty day out here. AMY Yep. MILES You travelin alone? AMY Yep. I don’t do well amongst people. MILES I don’t mean you any harm. I am a sheriff in a nearby town, over yonder. I am out hear trying to spread the word about some outlaws. Miles hands Amy a wanted poster with, Lanny, Riley, and Zane’s faces. Amy adjusts her “man parts” and takes it. MILES (CONT’D) Have you seen any of these men? AMY No, ain’t see em. MILES Well, if you do run across them, be careful, they are real dangerous men. They murdered a woman and her boy in cold blood and took my nieces for all they have. And did a number on my arm here. 40.
Miles looks at Amy’s horse. MILES (CONT’D) That is some stallion you have there. Do you mind if I take a look at him? AMY I don’t think that is a good idea. He don’t take to strangers. MILES Okay, right. Thanks for your time. Miles rides off. EXT. RIVER’S EDGE - AFTERNOON Lanny and Riley look haggard. Lanny hobbles into the water to drink it. Riley sits down on the bank and removes his boots. It has been a rough journey by foot and it shows in his feet. Once quenched, Lanny lays back and floats. LANNY Get in. The water’s nice. RILEY Yyyyoouu.. You know I I can’t swim. LANNY (Laughing) Yeah, I know. RILEY (Outburst) Shit! Fuck! LANNY It sure feels good though. Answer me one thing. How the hell do you plan on crossing this here river? Suddenly they hear a CRACKING branch just in the distance. They take cover. Riley has left his bible and boots behind. A wagon approaches. They can’t quite see who it is. Riley’s face begins to twitch wildly. RILEY (Outburst) Fuck! Titty! Fuckers! 41.
Ben charges the reads like a wild animal. He drags Riley out and gets off several punches before Lanny and Victor separate the entangled men. VICTOR Whoa, son calm down. LANNY Ben, its okay. It’s me Lanny. Man are you a sight for sore eyes. Ben charges Lanny. BEN You son of a bitch! You killed my mother you asshole! Ben wails on Lanny. Riley tries to help. Ben tackles Riley into the water. Ben submerges Riley’s face. BEN (CONT’D) And you, you sick bastard! He was just a boy and you killed him! It takes Victor, Lanny, and Will to get Ben off of Riley. Riley lays floating in the water. The current begins to carry him away. Lanny tries but is too injured to help. LANNY Help him. Please! He can’t swim! He ain’t killed nobody, Please. It was Zane. He killed them. I can help you find him. Victor springs into action saving Riley from the rapids. Victor pulls Riley to shore and beats his chest until he GASPS for air. VICTOR I am not burying another body today. We are going to escort these two men into the next town. We are going to turn what’s left of them over to the law, and we are going to let them handle this from here on out. Do you understand? SILENCE. VICTOR (CONT’D) Ben, do you understand? 42.
BEN (Reluctantly) Yes. VICTOR Yes what? BEN Yes, sir. EXT. JUST OUTSIDE OF WESTERN TOWN #2 - DAY Victor is leading his boys towards town. Lanny and Riley’s wrists are bound and fastened to the back of the Wagon. Their feet are bare. Will keeps alternating the pace of the horses. LANNY Come on! This still can’t be entertaining to you fellas. Ben and Will LAUGH. One of the horses shits. BEN Do it again. Will turns the carriage slightly leading Riley to step in the shit pile. It SQUISHES. RILEY AWWWWW, SSSHHHHIT! Again the boys LAUGH. EXT. CENTER OF BUSTLING WESTERN TOWN #2 - DAY The Lawson boys take in the busy pace of the town. Victor leads the group to the sheriff’s office. INT. COUNTY JAIL TOWN #2 - MOMENTS LATER Victor enters the jailhouse. Ben pulls Lanny and Riley in with a swift tug on their ropes. The local sheriff, PLEASANT MCLEOD, stands to greet them. PLEASANT Good day. VICTOR Good day. I’m Victor Lawson and these here are my two sons Ben and Will. 43.
PLEASANT Nice to meet you. My name is, Pleasant Mcleod, I’m the law around here. What can I do you for? VICTOR We are here to deliver these two wanted outlaws. BEN Murdering outlaws! The sheriff looks Lanny and Riley over. PLEASANT Awe, yeah. The sheriff points towards a wanted poster of Lanny, Riley and Zane. PLEASANT (CONT’D) We got word that they killed a mother and her young son in broad day light. VICTOR It was my wife and my son. PLEASANT I’m sorry. And you had enough restraint to bring them in alive. Well, you are a much better man than I am. The sheriff takes the ropes from Ben. He unties the men and locks them up in a jail cell. PLEASANT (CONT’D) They have already been sentenced to hang, you know. So, I guess we will have us a hanging here to look forward to tomorrow. Any news on the third man? LANNY You mean the real murderer! PLEASANT I suggest you shut your trap if you know what’s good for you. It sounds to me that you should have minded the company you kept a little better. 44.
Pleasant looks at Riley who has his head buried in his bible. PLEASANT (CONT’D) And as for you, if you spent your time practicing the words of that book instead of reading them, you wouldn’t even be in this mess. VICTOR It seems the third man took off. PLEASANT A shame, we’ll just have to find him and hang him another day. Until then, do you all have a place to stay? VICTOR No, this was a detour for us. Pleasant puts his hand on Victor’s shoulder to lead him out. PLEASANT Well, I can help you with that too. Pleasant CLOSES the door leaving Riley and Lanny there alone. LANNY I know we’ve been in some binds before and I don’t mean to be a real croaker but I think we’ve gotten ourselves into a heap of trouble this time and we are gonna pay through the nose with our lives. Riley’s face begins to twitch wildly. LANNY (CONT’D) What does that there book say about redemption? RILEY I ddddon’t knnnow. LANNY What do you mean you don’t know? You keep you damn head buried in that thing. Now what does it say? RILEY I dddon’t knnnow. 45.
LANNY Fine, just read me something! Anything. RILEY Nnnno. I cccan’t...I mean..I I I..can’t read. I ain’t nnnever learned how. Lanny is surprised. He takes the bible out of Riley’s shaky hands. He sits down and opens the book. LANNY In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth. The Earth was without form and voice, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Riley stills. LANNY (CONT’D) And God said, “Let there be light” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. MONTAGE: We see Lanny continue to read. He turns page after page. Gallows are being erected just outside their jail cell. Night falls. Lanny continues to read to Riley by the light of the moon. EXT. GREAT PLAINS - NIGHT Amy is asleep under the stars. Her horse is tied to a lone tree. Amy is having a nightmare. She thrashes, then wakes abruptly with a GASP. AMY’S POV: She is staring into the eyes of a coiled up rattle snake. The snake strikes. Amy reacts. 46.
The snake misses. Amy rolls to her feet and pulls her pistol. She fires one SHOT. Hitting the snake dead on. A shiver runs up her spine. She reacts again. This time UNLOADING her weapon at the dead snake. Her last SHOT RICOCHETS off a nearby rock. The stray bullet nips a buffalo just off in the darkness. The wounded buffalo lets out a primal MOAN. Amy starts to make out the shape of the buffalo. Several other buffalo respond to the call with GRUNTS, SNORTS, and MOANS. The herd begins to shift starting a STAMPEDE. Amy attempts to run to the nearby tree. She is being knocked over and bumped with her every advance. The ground SHAKES and RUMBLES. Her horse NEIGHS in distress. Amy finally makes it to the tree. She tries to untie the horse but is unsuccessful. She climbs into the tree. The limb SNAPS, she falls, and her horse, now free, gets caught up in the momentum of the heard. He’s gone. The herd dissipates. Amy is injured and remains curled up. EXT. GREAT PLAINS - MORNING Amy slowly opens her eyes. She struggles to her feet. She makes her way over to her campsite. She spots her hat, dusts it off, and puts it on. She sees her pistol. She lifts it. It’s bent. She spots her second pistol. It too has been bent. AMY No. INT. JAIL HOUSE TOWN #2 - MORNING Lanny continues to read. Riley hangs on his every word. LANNY (Raspy) The angel said to me, “these words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place. HAMMERING is coming from outside. Lanny pauses, then peers between the bars of the window. RILEY What, wwwhat is it? 47.
LANNY Nothing... Where was I, oh yes, Jesus is coming. “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book. Pleasant enters with a group of men. PLEASANT Here they are gentlemen. Pleasant UNLOCKS the cell door. Lanny DROPS the bible. The men engulf Lanny and Riley. They drag them out. EXT. MAIN STREET TOWN #2 - MOMENTS LATER Lanny and Riley are lead forcefully to the gallows. A noose is wrapped around each of their necks. A large crowd forms. Lanny spots the Lawson family. RILEY Thhhank you Lanny, for sssaving me. LANNY You saved me friend. I’ll see you on the other side. A man kicks Riley forward. He hangs. Lanny spots Zane in the crowd. Lanny signals Ben with a WHISTLE. LANNY (CONT’D) It’s Zane! Behind you! Lanny spits at the hangman, jumps forward, and hangs himself. Ben turns to see Zane just behind him. Ben draws his gun and starts to take off. Victor grabs him firmly by the arm. VICTOR Son, don’t do this. BEN I have to. This is what I came here to do! VICTOR There is a better way. Ben rips his arm free. 48.
BEN Don’t wait around for me. Ben mounts a horse. He sees Zane moving through the crowd. Zane mounts a horse and the chase is on! Ben closes in and FIRES. Zane FIRES back. They align alongside a moving train. The locomotive CHUGS full speed ahead towards a tunnel. Zane reaches for and grabs the train. Ben shoots Zane’s horse. Zane’s horse rolls out from under him. Ben’s horse jumps the fallen horse. Ben grabs Zane’s leg, he tries to pull him down while gauging the timing of the enclosing mountain face. Ben is running out of time. Ben let’s go. Zane slips into the train car. The mountain swallows him. Ben stops on point at the rock face. EXT. GREAT PLAINS - DAY Amy looks small against the vast landscape. She is headed west on foot. She is unkempt, confused, and dehydrated. We can sense time is passing as the scenery and sunlight change. Amy’s gait begins to change. Eventually she trips over the grave of one of the dead posse members. AMY’S POV: She sees the rotting carcass of a dead horse. AMY Oh no, Molly? Amy hears Elaine’s boisterous LAUGH. AMY (CONT’D) Elaine? Where are you? Amy retches. AMY (CONT’D) What’s that smell? AMY’S POV: Amy sees a very pregnant Sarah. AMY (CONT’D) Sarah, what are you doing here? You need to go home. Amy passes out. 49.
EXT. MAIN STREET TOWN #2 - AFTERNOON Victor and Will are loaded up on the carriage. Victor checks his pocket watch. WILL Can we just wait a little longer? I know he will be back. VICTOR I don’t believe he will. But we can give him one more hour. Then we are heading on with or without him. WILL Thank you. EXT. GREAT PLAINS - AFTERNOON Amy is being nudged awake by her horse. She opens her eyes. AMY (Raspy) Oh, thank God! Amy pulls a canteen down from the saddle. There is little water to be had. She drinks it. She rubs the horse’s snout. AMY (CONT’D) Thank you. You are a savior. That is what I will call you, Savior. Amy manages to mount SAVIOR. She passes out again. EXT. RIVER’S EDGE - SUNSET Savior wades into the water. He bucks Amy off. She wakes up with the SPLASH. She LAUGHS, then CRIES, she smiles peacefully and floats back into the water. EXT. RIVER’S EDGE - NIGHT Amy is clean and asleep next to a campfire. Outwardly she appears as a man with her hat tipped down low. She has bound Savior to a rope and has the other end tied around her wrist. UNKNOWN POV: Amy is being watched. We see three Crow Indians emerge from the brush. 50.
BLACK HEART, is a tall male Indian, in his late teens, with an athletic build. He has long dark hair, which is in two side braids, with a front pompadour. His face is covered in white war paint with black stripes. His eyes are crystal blue. He looks menacing and is armed with a tomahawk. The two other Indians are merely boys. They follow Black Heart’s lead as he descends on the campsite. Black Heart’s shadow engulfs Amy. He lifts his tomahawk. He swings the sharp blade down but stops short of severing the halter rope when Amy lifts her wrist to her forehead, knocking her hat off. Her hair spills out across his feet. Black Heart stares at her. His companions gesture him to finish the job. Black Heart steps back allowing the light of the campfire to illuminate Amy. Black Heart gestures to the “Great Spirt” and then retreats, calling them off. EXT. LAWSON CAMPSITE - NIGHT Victor and Will have moved on without Ben. EXT. AMY’S CAMPSITE RIVER’S EDGE - NIGHT Amy is awakened by Indian war WHOOPS and GUNFIRE, just off in the distance. She unties Savior and pulls out her shotgun. The two young Crow Indians emerge on horseback. A semiconscious Black Heart is draped over one of their horses. Amy aims to shoot. Crow Indian boy #1 holds his hands up. Crow Indian boy #2 DROPS Black Heart at her feet. She GASPS. Black Heart is covered in blood and he has an arrow impaled in his side. Crow Indian boy #1 puts his hands down slowly. He then gestures to the Great Spirit, to Black Heart, then to Amy. AMY You’re not gonna leave him here. Indian boy #2 offers Amy a bow with a beautiful carved horse on it. She takes it reluctantly. The Indian boys ride off. AMY (CONT’D) Where are you going? Come back! Amy hears more Indian war WHOOPS, now close. Amy looks at Black Heart. He reaches his hand up towards her. AMY (CONT’D) Shit. 51.
Amy tucks the bow into her saddle bag. She drags Black Heart to the river. She leads Savior down to the river. She floats Black Heart onto Saviors back. She holds her shotgun over head as they tread across stream. Amy and Savior work hard against the current. Something bumps into Amy. It’s the dead body of Crow Indian boy #1. Amy pushes the body out of the way and continues on. They make it to the other side. Amy takes cover. Savior make his way to a nearby ridge and is pacing with Black Heart still draped over him. AMY’S POV: Across the river Amy sees Crow Indian boy #2 stumble up to her campsite. He is being shot at with several arrows. He’s hit. He goes down. Several Sioux Indian warriors emerge over the fallen boy. One Sioux male WHOOPS and scalps him. Amy sets up aim on him with her shotgun. She waits. The Sioux retreat. Two Sioux Indians, breathing out of hallow reeds, make their way down river, out of site from Amy. Sioux Indian #1 emerges from the water armed with a Bowie knife. He has his sights set on Black Heart and Savior on the ridge. Amy spots him. Sioux Indian #1 launches off a boulder, just over top of Amy. She lays back and SHOOTS him dead. Sioux Indian #2 springs from the water and charges Amy. She SHOOTS him dead. The group of Sioux Indian Warriors head back towards the campsite. Amy, now out of ammo, runs up the ridge, and mounts Savior. We see Amy ride Savior, with Black Heart draped over him high into the cover of the Rocky Mountains. EXT. SOUTH WESTERN MONTANA - DAY Victor and Will sit together in the carriage. Riding along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Victor is at the reins and offers Will a piece of jerky. VICTOR You haven’t said a word in hours. Look around you son. This place is grand. I would think you of all people would enjoy a picturesque view like this. WILL Yeah, it’s nice. 52.
VICTOR This is about missing Sarah, isn’t it? You’re merely between hay and grass son. You have plenty of time. Who knows you might meet someone new who strikes your fancy. WILL I don’t want to meet someone new. I have met plenty of girls and she is the one, the only one who does that thing to me. You wouldn’t understand. VICTOR I understand more than you know. You and I were cut from the same cloth. My heart seems to have knowledge of things my head just can’t understand. WILL Yeah, it’s not what I’m thinking about though. It’s Ben and his choices. I just flat out don’t understand em. I mean why wouldn’t you want to preserve the only family you have left? Instead, he is out there risking his life seeking vengeance for two people who are gone. VICTOR Yeah. He is. WILL You know, when they hung those two men. I didn’t feel the innocence of Scout or the grace of Mother in that. Honestly, I just felt kind of sorry for them. I tried to enjoy it, like Ben, but frankly I hated it. I hated everything about it. VICTOR When heaven was dealing out hearts boy, they dealt you a big one. You were made to focus on the beauty in this world. It is a gift, it is who you are. But unfortunately it doesn’t come that easy for a lot of us. 53.
WILL Yeah, I guess. VICTOR There was a time I wasn’t much different from your brother but I’ve changed. You know, there is a fine line that exists between love and hate. It’s easy to teeter on that razor’s edge and just the right amount of force can push you over, either way. But here’s the thing, it’s simple. We always have a choice. WILL A choice? VICTOR Yes. You can either choose to come from a place of love or a place of fear. WILL Fear? Fear of what? VICTOR Change. WILL Change? VICTOR Yeah, change! It makes folks nervous. Change can happen slowly or quick like a strike of lightning but it is always gonna happen. WILL So? VICTOR So, when people fear change they try to control it but they can’t. It can make even a good man act crazy. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. But now, I just try to rise above it. I have found that everything looks very different when you’ve got a bird’s eye view. Will relaxes. Looks at the scenery. A bald eagle flies over. 54.
EXT. ROCKY MOUNTAINS - MORNING Amy is weary. The rays of the sun are dispersed from the canopy of aspens. She rides into a clearing surrounded by a small mountain lake. It’s majestic. AMY Wow. Amy navigates Savior under a natural rock enclosure. She pulls down her bedroll and curls up on the ground. Injured Black Heart remains draped over Savior. EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - DAY Victor and Will approach. The ranch is thriving. It is full of cattle, horses, and ranch hands. The land has a view of the snowcapped Rockies and the river, a barn, bunk house, and a huge cabin. INT. KITCHEN LAWSON CABIN - DAY The curtains are blowing in with the breeze. BONNIE LAWSON, a voluptuous and kind woman, looks out the window. She sees Victor and Will approaching. EXT. FRONT PORCH LAWSON CABIN - MOMENTS LATER Bonnie runs out the front door, wipes her hands on her apron. BONNIE Come Robert, they’re here! INT. LAWSON MONTANA BARN - DAY ROBERT LAWSON is helping one of his ranch hands birth a foal. He is a born leader with a strong build and an even stronger presence. He washes his hands in a pale and exits. EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - MOMENTS LATER Robert joins Bonnie. They watch the approaching wagon arrive. Victor smiles, stops the carriage, jumps down, and gives Robert a big hug. Robert looks Victor over. ROBERT My God, baby brother it’s good to see you! 55.
VICTOR It’s been too long! You look good. Robert pulls Bonnie in. ROBERT It’s all because of Bonnie here. She takes real good care of me. Bonnie gives Victor a long embrace. BONNIE Oh honey, it’s great to see you and I’m so sorry. I’ve sent many a prayer up for you. VICTOR Thank you Bonnie. Bonnie looks up at Will still sitting in the carriage. She gestures him down. He jumps down and joins them. Robert shakes Will’s hand. ROBERT I’m your uncle Robert. WILL Hi, nice to meet you. I’m... ROBERT ...Don’t tell me. You must be William. WILL Will. Robert looks down at their hands. ROBERT Yes, well that girly handshake and this baby fine skin gave it away. You must be the artist. Will pulls his hand back defensively. ROBERT (CONT’D) Well, that’s gonna change. There’s not gonna be much time for art around here. Bonnie pushes Robert back playfully and hugs Will. 56.
BONNIE He’s just pullin your leg baby, it’s so good to finally meet you. WILL Yes, you too. ROBERT I can’t get over those damn powder puffs. I suggest you don’t shake hands with any of the round-up gang either. WILL The round up gang? ROBERT Yeah, that’s what I call all my ranch hands. And if they feel that soft velvety skin, they will eat you alive. Bonnie grabs Will’s hand and escorts him away. BONNIE Don’t listen to him. Come let me introduce you to your family. ROBERT Where is Benjamin? I could sure use a bronc buster like him around here. VICTOR He will be along in his own time. Robert and Victor follow Bonnie and Will towards the cabin. ROBERT He can pull his weight around here, can’t he? VICTOR I don’t know. He has never really had to with Ben around. You know how big brothers can be. They’re an overbearing bread. ROBERT Right! Well, if he can’t I could sure use a nice picture for over the fireplace. They LAUGH. 57.
INT. LIVING ROOM LAWSON CABIN - MOMENTS LATER The room is grand and cozy. By the window lay two elderly women in a large wooden bed. FRANCES is in her sixties. She’s frail yet feisty. GAMMY MAC is in her eighties and hard of hearing. She uses an ear trumpet to aid her. Will and Bonnie enter. FRANCES Where have you been? We are burning up in here. GAMMY MAC Huh? What did you say? Frances lifts Gammy’s ear trumpet to her mouth. FRANCES I was saying it is hot in here! GAMMY MAC Oh, yes it feels good. BONNIE I’ll open a window. GAMMY MAC Who is this dear? BONNIE (Loud) Gammy, this is Will my nephew. Remember, I told you he was coming to live with us. GAMMY MAC Oh, yes dear. She is always singing your praises. BONNIE Will, this is my mother Frances and my grandmother Gammy Mac. GAMMY MAC What? FRANCES (Yelling) It’s Will, her nephew. 58.
GAMMY MAC Yes. I know. Will, my ears may fail me but my eyes sure don’t. You are quite a fine looking young fellow. WILL Thank you. GAMMY MAC You must have a lady friend? WILL Yes ma’am I do. Her name is Sarah. I hope to bring her here one day. I mean if that is okay with you all. BONNIE Sweetie, the one thing you need to know about me is that I love, love. God never blessed me with any children of my own, but I think that’s why he keeps sending me so many of his to love. FRANCES Ain’t that the truth? BONNIE I look forward to meeting her someday. GAMMY MAC Huh? FRANCES Her name is Sarah! Robert and Victor enter. ROBERT I see you have met the queen bees. You all remember my brother Victor. FRANCES Yes. GAMMY MAC Huh? FRANCES It’s Victor! 59.
ROBERT (Under his breath) Can you believe they are both still alive? I swear the way Bonnie cares for them they’re never gonna die. Bonnie picks up a tray of food to serve the women. FRANCES It’s about time. INT. KITCHEN LAWSON CABIN - MOMENTS LATER Robert, Victor, and Will enter. The room is made to feed many. There is a Hispanic woman cooking, MARIA. She is pregnant. A Hispanic man sits at the table eating. He stands when the men enter. ROBERT This here is Miguel, his wife Maria, and where is... A young Hispanic boy runs in. Robert scoops him up. ROBERT (CONT’D) There you are! This is Carlos. He’s a chip off the old block, eh Miguel? CARLOS Hola. ROBERT Miguel here, he is a man you can tie to, and I don’t know what we would do without Maria. Man can she cook! They all greet one another. EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - DAY Robert WHISTLES in the round-up gang. They all line up. ROBERT Nice work out there today boys. I called you all over to introduce you to your new big bug and ranch hand. This is my brother Victor and his son Will. I expect that you will treat them as an extension of myself. (MORE) 60.
And if I hear otherwise, you will have to answer to me. Does everyone understand? ROUND-UP GANG Yes, sir. Robert walks down the line, looking each one in the eye. ROBERT This here is, what I like to call the round-up gang. The finest cowboys in all of Montana. This here is Harland. Victor gives him a nice hardy handshake. Will takes notice. HARLAND goes to shake Will’s hand. Will hesitates. Robert shakes his head to Harland. ROBERT (CONT’D) He’s not much for handshakes. This is Bennett, Jasper, Asa, Henry and his brother Harvey, Paul, Ned, Chad, Matthew, Jamie, and Bobby. VICTOR Well, I have got to say. You have a good thing going here. I look forward to getting to know you all better. ROUND-UP GANG Yes, sir. ROBERT Dismissed. The round-up gang return to their chores. VICTOR When you sent word that you needed help. I pictured things, well, different. ROBERT I have lost some good men to the mines and to the railroad. Others just couldn’t cut it and I had to let them go. You know, I don’t have much tolerance for dead weight. VICTOR Yeah. I know. ROBERT (CONT'D) 61.
ROBERT However, my real problem is that the ranch is teeming with more horses than we can handle. In account, we don’t have enough men who can break them. They are just running wild. VICTOR That’s not the worst problem to have. I believe we can help you with that. RILEY Good. Will, go on and accompany Chad and Matthew here to the corral. They can start showing you how we go about domesticating these wild horses. MATTHEW Sure thing boss. CHAD It can be fun once you get the hang of it. WILL Oh? Will, Chad, and Matthew head to the corral where there is a bucking bronco. MATTHEW Will, do you want to take this one? WILL No, you go ahead. I’ll watch you and take the next one. Victor and Robert sit down on the front porch and watch on. Bonnie brings the some refreshments. ROBERT Join us. BONNIE No. You two catch up. We’ll have plenty of time later. Bonnie kisses Robert. She leaves. 62.
ROBERT I’ve been real worried about you Vic. When I try and put myself in your shoes and think about what I’d do if something happened to Bonnie. I can’t. My mind won’t even consider it. VICTOR Elizabeth and I weren’t like you two. We married for all the wrong reasons. I loved her, yes, but whatever connection we had was lost long ago. ROBERT Do you miss her? VICTOR Yes, I miss her... in my own way. I have a lot of faith now. That has changed since you knew me and it comforts me to know that they took that heavenly journey together. I believe they are okay, actually better than okay. ROBERT That’s good Vic. That’s real real good. EXT. ROCKY MOUNTAINS - EVENING Black Heart MOANS. Amy is awakened. Amy approaches him cautiously. When close she grabs her canteen and CHUGS the rest of the water. Amy refills her canteen at the lake. She takes Savior by the reins and leads him under the rock shelter. Amy takes a deep breath and slides Black Heart down. He wakes and GROANS. She props him up. He stares into her eyes. She assesses his wounds. He has a gash on his head that is bleeding slightly and an arrow impaled in his side. Amy goes to her saddle bag. She takes the bow and lays it by Black Heart. He removes his eyes from her briefly to look at it. She returns to the bag for some supplies. AMY One of the Indian boys you were with, he left that bow with me. Is it yours? 63.
Amy begins to clean his wounds. AMY (CONT’D) Can you understand me? I guess not huh? Well it shouldn’t upset you too much for me to tell you that those boys were killed by the Indians you all were fighting. Amy looks to Black Heart. He continues to stare at her. AMY (CONT’D) Well, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. Amy begins to wash his scalp wound. AMY (CONT’D) It’s not too bad. She cleans his face removing all the dried blood and war paint. His features are chiseled and his lips full. AMY (CONT’D) Are you thirsty? She gives him a sip from the canteen. She moves on to cleaning his chest. Her motions become slower, more fluid, and sensual. She is focusing on his strong, hard build. She catches herself and gets flustered. AMY (CONT’D) Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve just never been intimate with a man before. I mean, I have kissed a man once, actually he kissed me. Then he left town. I’m hoping to see him again. I’ve had a lot of offers too. I run a saloon so I see a lot of men. Scum bags really. God, I’m so glad you can’t understand me. Well, you are just about fixed up. Amy stands and looks down at the arrow. He follows her stare. AMY (CONT’D) It looks like it is not in far enough to push it through, so we’ll have to pull it out. Amy removes her boots, places a foot on his chest, and wraps her hands around the shaft of the arrow. 64.
AMY (CONT’D) Okay, on three. One, two, I can do this, three. Amy pulls. Black Heart STIFLES a SCREAM. She gives the arrow a twist. It POPS out. The wound spews blood. Amy puts her bandana over it. AMY (CONT’D) Here, put pressure on it. Amy stands and turns her back to Black Heart. AMY (CONT’D) (Under her breath) Damn it Elaine. Amy reaches into the front of her pants and pulls out the stocking she has been using for her “man parts.” She wraps the stocking around his torso to hold the bandana in place. AMY (CONT’D) Okay there. Another great use for that thing. INT. KITCHEN LAWSON CABIN - NIGHT Several of the round-up gang, the Vasquez family, and the Lawson family gather for dinner. The table is abundant. They are giving thanks. ROBERT Oh mighty God, we thank you for your grace, for watching over Victor and Will during their travels, all these fine people, and your bounty. Amen. GROUP Amen. ROBERT Now let’s dig in. The group serve themselves. ROBERT (CONT’D) So Will, how did it go out there today? 65.
WILL I think Matt and Chad did a bang-up job. As for me, I just got real banged up. The group LAUGHS. MATTHEW You’re all right by me Will. CHAD Yeah, as fine as cream and gravy. ROBERT Now, Will the way I see it. It’s your time to go through the mill and your opportunity, your golden opportunity, to step out of Ben’s shadow for once and for all and to become the man you are gonna be. WILL I’m just not like my brother. ROBERT Are any of us? I thank God I’m not like this son of bitch all the time. VICTOR Thanks Robby. ROBERT No but seriously. We get it. You’ve got a sensitive side. But use that boy. That is your well. Tap into it! Find the beauty in these wild horses and your ability to connect with them. You’re still a man. I think you will be amazed at what you can do. Okay?! WILL Yes, sir. ROBERT Okay?! Let me hear you! GROUP Yes sir! LAUGHTER. 66.
BONNIE You know Victor, the word has already gotten around that Robert’s available brother was coming into town. ROBERT Bonnie... BONNIE What? It’s true. I had at least three inquirers just last week. ROBERT I told her not to... VICTOR ... It’s okay. I know Bonnie’s the eternal matchmaker. MATTHEW She still hasn’t set me up yet. ROBERT I wonder why? BONNIE So Victor? VICTOR Thank you. But I plan on letting my heart make those decisions on my behalf from now on. BONNIE Fine. Suit yourself. EXT. ROCKY MOUNTAINS - NIGHT Black Heart is comfortable. Amy cooks two fish over a campfire. She puts each of them on a plate and slides one to Black Heart. AMY Dinner’s served. Black Heart inspects the fish. Amy takes her plate and eats away from the camp, by Savior. She hand feeds the horse. Black Heart watches her. Amy returns for her bedding. She noticed Black Heart has not eaten. 67.
AMY (CONT’D) What? You don’t like fish? She tosses him a blanket. AMY (CONT’D) Here. Good night. Amy sleeps under the stars by Savior. EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - NIGHT Ben is alone. He’s grown a beard and is stoking a campfire. He sits back, reaches into his pocket and retrieves the sketch he drew. He tears out the image of Zane and burns the rest in the fire. It STOKES. EXT. FOOT HILLS OF THE ROCKIES - NIGHT Zane emerges from the woods by horseback. There is a modest log cabin just off in the distance. He makes his way towards it. The chimney is letting off smoke and the windows are faintly lit. INT. MCATEE LOG CABIN - NIGHT Inside is a young couple. MARIDAI and DOUGLAS MCATEE. Maridai is gentle and graceful. Douglas is jovial and is a fiery red head. The couple are making love by a fire. They finish. DOUGLAS Well, Miss Maridai McAtee, for such a delicate flower of a woman, you sure now how to please a man. MARIDAI You’re not just a man. You’re my man. And my husband now. DOUGLAS Say it again? MARIDAI What? DOUGLAS Husband. MARIDAI Husband. 68.
They kiss. MARIDAI (CONT’D) How many children do you suppose we should have? DOUGLAS Well, if they’re like you, hundreds. If they are anything like their old man here, I think one is about all we could handle. Maridai GIGGLES. They hear a NOISE outside. DOUGLAS (CONT’D) It’s just the wind. I’m sure of it. I’ll go take a look. Douglas stands. He puts on his pants and his gun belt. MARIDAI Don’t go out there. I have a bad feeling. Douglas smiles and kisses her forehead. DOUGLAS I’ll be fine darling. Keep my spot warm for me. Douglas turns the handle of the front door. He opens it. Zane SHOOTS him dead. Maridai SCREAMS. Zane makes his way in, and kicks Douglas’s body outside. Zane stands over Maridai and tips his hat to her. ZANE You know little lady. I had a mind to just pass you all right on by. But when I peered in that there window and saw you with your man. Well, it made me a little jealous. Maridai begins to CRY. ZANE (CONT’D) Shhh, don’t do that. I’ll take my time. I don’t plan on leaving here anytime soon. 69.
EXT. ROCKY MOUNTAINS - DAY Black Heart is pale, sweaty, and shaking. Amy covers him with a blanket and her bed roll. Time passes. He looks worse. Amy drags his semiconscious body closer to the fire. Amy gathers firewood. She stops and notices the aspens are turning yellow. She looks worried but returns to her task. Days turn into nights. Nights turn into days. Amy tends to Black Heart. Clouds move in. Amy is shivering. She reluctantly surrenders to the situation. She slides under the bedroll and wraps her arms around Black Heart. She stops shivering. EXT. ROCKY MOUNTAINS - MORNING Black Heart’s fever has broken. He is bathing in the nude. Amy wakes. She notices Black Heart is gone. She looks for him and sees him bathing. She pretends to be asleep and peeks with one eye to watch him. Black Heart finishes. He exits the lake. Gets dressed and walks toward Savior. He admires the horse and hand feeds him some grass. Amy gets up and makes her way over to them. Black Heart can’t take his eyes off her as she approaches. Amy smiles. BLACK HEART Iichiile Itche (ee-chee-lay eet- chay). AMY Eeechillay eetchayyy? Black Heart is amused. BLACK HEART Yes, in Crow language it means good horse. AMY You speak. You speak English? BLACK HEART The Great Spirit give animals, the ones without fires, supernatural powers. Man does not possess these powers. Man need animal to obtain powers. 70.
AMY What? BLACK HEART The animals are the great revelers. Through sacred dream, vision, or fasting experience, animals will come. AMY He saved me in the desert once. BLACK HEART Yes. He then prescribe the sacred secrets of the Great Spirit. You possess gift powers from this good horse. You possess horse medicine. The great power to heal. AMY I don’t know. BLACK HEART I seek not from you, I have seen, been shown, by the Great Spirit. I inform you. You possess great power. AMY Okay? Thank you. BLACK HEART Don’t thank me. Thank Iichiile. Amy is confused. BLACK HEART (CONT’D) Thank horse! Black Heart walks away. Amy looks to Savior. EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - DAY Robert takes Will over to a pen with a wild, wild horse. ROBERT Here she is boy. I swear she has been possessed by the Devil himself. WILL I don’t know about this. 71.
ROBERT Have faith boy. Now come on. Robert jumps the fence and grabs a rope. ROBERT (CONT’D) Whoa now. Shhh. It’s okay. Robert mounts the horse. She throws him off. Robert stands. ROBERT (CONT’D) Come on in. She’s prime. Will climbs in. ROBERT (CONT’D) So what do you feel? WILL Scared. ROBERT Okay. That’s a start. Why? WILL Um, cause I think I might die or get maimed. ROBERT Okay. Now get past yourself. Look at this horse. What do you feel? WILL That she is scared. Too. ROBERT All right boy. Now we’re talking. It takes Will several attempts to mount her. He looks the horse in the eye every time he tries. The last time he catches his reflection in her eye. He mounts her. He tames her. Robert opens the gate wide and lets them ride free. ROBERT (CONT’D) Whooo hooo! That’s it! Go boy! The round-up gang take notice and CHEER Will on. EXT. ROCKY MOUNTAINS - EVENING Amy has prepared a fish dinner. Black Heart picks at it. 72.
BLACK HEART What do I call you? AMY Umm, my name is Amy, Amy Vass, you can call me Amy. What is your name? BLACK HEART Dasse Shipite (daw-say shee-pee- tay) AMY Dasse Shipite? BLACK HEART Yes. It means Black Heart. AMY That is some name. How did you get that name? BLACK HEART Crow Indian boys, aspiring warriors, seek guidance from the Great Spirit. As a young man I went to the Sacred Mountains to seek. I went many days without water or food awaiting Baxbe. AMY Baxbe? BLACK HEART Sacred power from the Maker. AMY Oh. BLACK HEART Many days pass, pangs of hunger died, I lay down and waited. Then I had a clear vision from the Maker. AMY How did that give you your name? BLACK HEART When I returned home. Many could see that I had seen. I had admirers, women, who wanted to marry me. I denied them all. AMY I know what that’s like. 73.
BLACK HEART One by one I had to explain. I would be unable to marry, it would go in the face of the Great Spirit. AMY Why? BLACK HEART Because of the vision showed to me. AMY Oh, go on. BLACK HEART I explain, some understand, some get angry and their fathers too. They say I won’t marry, that I have a black heart. So they name me Black Heart. AMY That is fascinating. If they named my people by their actions it would get very interesting... Now that you are feeling better, I plan on setting out in the morning. I had some people I was trying to meet up with. Will you be okay here or did you want to accompany me down the mountain? BLACK HEART Where are your people? AMY I suppose they are in Montana by now. BLACK HEART You are far from that land. Black Heart looks to the sky. BLACK HEART (CONT’D) A storm is coming and plans to stay until the river flows again. It would not be wise for you to go. AMY What? Are you suggesting I stay here all winter? 74.
BLACK HEART The bear sleeps for good reason. AMY A storm? BLACK HEART Yes, may be a good idea to head down mountain when sun rises. Black Heart picks up his bow and pretends to shoot. BLACK HEART (CONT’D) My friends give you arrows? AMY No. Just the bow. BLACK HEART You have long barrel gun. AMY Yes. But no ammo. BLACK HEART That why fish, always fish? Fish is poor food. AMY (Sarcastically)) I’d like to see you do better. Amy tosses him her bead handled knife. AMY (CONT’D) That my friend, is the only weapon, I, we have. Black Heart sizes the knife up then sharpens it with a rock. EXT. ASPEN FOREST ROCK MOUNTAINS - DAY Amy is riding Savior down the mountain. Black Heart walks alongside her. Flurries begin to fall. Amy is wearing her hair down under her hat. Black Heart suddenly stops. He motions to Amy to stay put. Black Heart arms himself with the knife. He crouches and makes his way to a clearing. He SILENTLY stalks his prey. He approaches a sleeping buck. Launches forward. Mounts it. The buck takes off running. 75.
Black Heart holds on, draws his knife high and pierces the dear’s heart with one swift motion. The deer collapses. Black Heart rolls to his feet. Amy LAUGHS and CLAPS her hands in amazement, then joins him. EXT. CLEARING ROCKY MOUNTAINS - DAY Snow blankets the mountain. Black Heart and Amy stay warm by a fire. Black Heart is donning some shoes and a coat he has made from the deer skin. He is finishing a shawl-like garment for Amy. Amy is feasting on some cooked deer meat. AMY Mmmm it’s utterly delicious. You are right. It is better than fish. Black Heart finishes and goes to slip the garment over her head. She instinctively flinches back. AMY (CONT’D) Sorry. Black Heart pauses. Amy sits up straight and he slips it on. BLACK HEART Looks good. AMY Thank you. Nobody has ever... well, thank you. Black Heart returns to work, making arrows. AMY (CONT’D) Can you teach me? BLACK HEART Yes. MONTAGE: Black Heart shows Amy how to fashion some arrows. They practice shooting at a target. Amy hones her skill. They pack up camp. They ride Savior together down the mountain. 76.
The scenery changes and time passes. Black Heart reveals a hidden spot with a stashed teepee and gear. They erect a white, buffalo hide teepee. More snow falls. The inside of the teepee is layered in buffalo hides, there is a fire pit in the center. Amy gathers fire wood. They are ready. Winter arrives. EXT. FRONT OF TEEPEE - DAY Amy drags a small pine tree towards the teepee. Black Heart emerges from it. Amy looks happy. Her look is softer now. BLACK HEART You killed a tree? AMY No. Well, yes. It’s Christmas and where I come from we celebrate. Amy starts to drag the tree into the teepee. BLACK HEART I don’t understand. AMY Just help me and I’ll explain later. INT. MILES MODEST HOME - DAY The home is decorated for Christmas. Miles is still nursing his injured arm. His family is gathered. There is a KNOCK at the door. Miles opens it. It’s his deputy RUFUS. Rufus barges in with Burt and a couple of cronies in tow. MILES Rufus, what are you doing here? You are supposed to be watching the jailhouse? RUFUS We are here on official business. MILES Any business you have comes through me first! 77.
Burt waves the cronies over to a coat rack. BURT Check the pockets. One of the cronies pulls out a jeweled necklace. BURT (CONT’D) It seems a man with a gimp arm was seen last night leaving my home... Only for me to discover some of my wife’s jewelry missing. Miles charges Burt but is subdued by the men. MILES You’re a fucking liar! Rufus are you gonna let this blowhard buy your soul? You’re pathetic! They escort Miles from the home. BURT Merry Christmas. Please return to your festivities. INT. SHERRIFF’S OFFICE - AFTERNOON Miles is sitting on a bench in the jail cell. He turns his attention to his injured arm. He removes it from its sling. He pumps his fist and rolls his shoulder. He’s determined. INT. BROTHEL - AFTERNOON The place is under Burt’s ownership. It has gone way downhill. Burt sits at the bar puffing on a pipe. Elaine comes down the stairs dragging, a now obviously pregnant and depressed Sarah, by the arm. They are dressed up nice. BURT Where do you think you’re going? We have customers. Burt and his friends LAUGH. Johnny is gone and there is a sleazy bartender. Elaine stops and gets in Burt’s face. ELAINE You might own this dump but you don’t own me dirt bag. Elaine makes her exit with Sarah. 78.
INT. CHURCH - MOMENTS LATER Elaine and Sarah are greeted by Reverend Joseph. The church is quaint and cozy. The choir SINGS and there are many lit candles. They find their seats. INT. LAWSON CABIN MONTANA - EVENING The living room is full of CONVERSATION and LAUGHTER. Will stands at the foot of Frances and Gammy Mac’s bed. He unveils a huge painting of the Montana mountain side. Frances GASPS. WILL I thought it could hang over the fireplace here for you both to enjoy. Seeing that you don’t get out much and all. Robert leans in to Victor. ROBERT You know I was kidding, right? They LAUGH. ROBERT (CONT’D) Still no word from Ben? VICTOR No. I was hoping he’d be here by now. Victor gazes out the window. EXT. WOODS ROCKY MOUNTAINS - EVENING Ben is beaten up by the weather. He looks his horse over worried. He takes the reins and leads him on. Off in the distance a cabin appears. INT. HOBAN CABIN - MOMENTS LATER A family is gathered about the cabin, GEORGE HOBAN and INGE HOBAN, with their three young boys. Inge looks strikingly like Elizabeth Lawson, yet her demeanor is much more relaxed. Inge looks out the window and spots Ben approaching. He collapses. 79.
INT. HOBAN CABIN - EVENING Ben sits with the Hoban family for dinner. BEN I can’t remember the last time I had a feast as fine as this. INGE What is a young fellow like you doing out here on Christmas? Do you not have a family? What would your mama say? Ben looks at Inge. BEN I don’t know? You remind me of her. She is passed now. Inge reaches for his hand. It’s trembling. BEN (CONT’D) You know, I never knew just how much I loved her. INGE It’s okay. A mother’s heart knows. BEN You think so? INGE I know so. GEORGE Benjamin, it’s a pleasure to have you here with us tonight. Let’s raise a toast. Here’s to a warm Christmas and to a mother’s unbounded heart. Ben raises his glass. BEN Thank you. Cheers. INT. TEEPEE - NIGHT Amy’s tree is decorated with some handmade ornaments. There is a fire in the fire pit. Amy and Black Heart are sharing a bottle of whiskey and smoking a pipe. Amy is tipsy. 80.
AMY I don’t know why I was saving this. BLACK HEART Life should be enjoyed. AMY Yes, but it is not always easy. BLACK HEART Why? Peace and happiness are available in every moment. AMY I don’t know. BLACK HEART (Declares) You are happy now. AMY Yes, I feel safe with you. Black Heart moves in close. BLACK HEART I see you. You are brave and strong. You are like Biawacheeitchish. AMY Who? BLACK HEART Woman Chief. She too dressed like man. She was great chief and great warrior. AMY You think I’m like her? BLACK HEART Yes. She fought many battles, took many wives, loved bravely, and died bravely fighting for what she believed in. AMY Your tribe had a woman chief? BLACK HEART Yes. Many. Brave women, like you. 81.
Amy swoons from the alcohol. Black Heart catches her and lays her back. He lingers. Amy closes her eyes, tired. Black Heart picks up a blanket to cover Amy. Her leather journal spills out of it. Black Heart looks at the journal and its contents. He sees the photo of her father, the map, and the yellow feather. A memory is triggered. FLASHBACK: EXT. GREAT PLAINS 15 YEARS EARLIER - DAY Black Heart is about 4 years old. He rides with an older Crow Indian man, MEDICINE HAND. Medicine Hand wears a war bonnet. A white man rides towards them with a young, catatonic girl wrapped in a blanket. MEDICINE HAND White Man Whiskey. They stop in close proximity. MEDICINE HAND (CONT’D) You have child with you? LEVI It’s my daughter, Amy. She is sick. Levi gives medicine man a couple bottles of whiskey. Medicine Hand trades him a bead handled knife and sheath. Medicine Hand takes a long look at Amy. LEVI (CONT’D) I have tried everything. She won’t eat or talk. I thought you might could help her. MEDICINE HAND Her soul is sick. It casts a long black shadow over her pure heart. Medicine Hand pulls one yellow feather from his war bonnet. He closes his eyes. Holds the feather to his heart then to the sky. He CHANTS. Medicine Hand hands the feather to Black Heart and motions for him to deliver it to Levi. He does. Levi goes to take the feather, Amy’s head tips back, and Black Heart stares deep into her lifeless expression. 82.
LEVI Thank you. Black Heart returns to his horse. The Indian’s ride off. Levi tucks the yellow feather into Amy’s blanket and kisses her forehead before riding away in the other direction. INT. TEEPEE PRESENT TIME - NIGHT Black Heart looks at Amy and tucks the feather into her blanket with her. INT. TEEPEE - MORNING Black Heart pushes open the flap of the teepee letting in some morning light. He see’s something. He gets excited and wakes up Amy. BLACK HEART Amy! Wake up! It’s time. AMY What? Time for what? BLACK HEART Time to hunt. MONTAGE: Black Heart paints Amy’s face then Savior. Amy puts her hair in two side braids. Amy arms herself with a bow and some arrows. Black Heart places the yellow feather into Amy’s hair. They mount Savior. Black Heart is at the reins. Amy rides just behind him, they move in one fluid motion. The ground is covered in snow and there is a dense fog. EXT. GREAT PLAINS - MOMENTS LATER Black Heart stops. QUIET. We circle them. We see his breath. Out of the fog, a buffalo emerges. Foggy Breath. Black Heart kicks Savior into full gear. The buffalo runs. 83.
The fog lifts. They are riding in the middle of a herd of buffalo. Snow falls. Time slows. Amy smiles. Stretches her arms out. Leans her head back. Closes her eyes. SHE IS FREE. We begin to return to real time with the sound of Amy’s HEART BEAT and her every BREATH. The sound of Savior’s hooves DRUMMING the Earth. Black Heart WHOOPS. They move in on a buffalo. Amy pulls out an arrow, sets up aim, and takes him down with one shot. They dismount. Red blood seeps into the snow. Black Heart WHOOPS. Amy WHOOPS. EXT. AMY AND BLACK HEART’S CAMP - DAY Spring has arrived. Amy and Black Heart are packed up. Amy looks at a map. AMY I have it all planned out. Would you like to take a look? BLACK HEART No. I know my way. AMY Okay. Let’s go. They begin their journey. EXT. HOBAN CABIN - DAY The boys are horsing around with Ben. Ben is clean shaven and looks well cared for. George is loading Ben’s gear. Inge watches on. GEORGE You’re all set here. BEN Thank you. Ben shakes George’s hand. Inge hands Ben some food. INGE Take care of yourself. Ben takes the food, turns to leave. He pauses, then turns back towards Inge to give her a big hug. BEN Inge, thank you, for everything. 84.
Ben mounts his horse. INGE I hope you find what you’re searching for. Ben smiles and rides off. INGE (CONT’D) And don’t be a stranger! EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - DAY Zane is riding along with Maridai behind him. She is morose with a black eye and fat lip. She is bound at the wrists. ZANE This looks like a good spot to rest. Zane dismounts and pull Maridai off the horse. MARIDAI Help! Please somebody help me! ZANE You can scream your little heart out but ain’t nobody commin for you. Zane kisses her mouth and STIFLES her. EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - DAY Black Heart is washing up in a creek. Amy looks towards the trees. AMY I’ll get us some firewood. EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - DAY Ben rides along peacefully. EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - DAY Zane is asleep. Maridai is tied to a tree. With some effort she frees herself. She runs into the woods. 85.
EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - MOMENTS LATER Amy is gathering fire wood. EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - MOMENTS LATER Maridai is turned around and unsure which way to run. She decides and is off again. Zane lurches out from behind a tree and grabs her by the hair. ZANE You’re gonna pay for this Bitch! EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - MOMENTS LATER Amy hears a SCREAM. She drops her wood. Draws her knife and runs swiftly through the trees. Amy comes upon Zane wrestling Maridai. He has a gun to her head. Amy pounces on Zane’s back. He FIRES the gun. Amy’s advance deflects the bullet. The noise ECHOES in the sky. The noise alerts both Black Heart and Ben who are in the area. Black Heart runs through the forest at mock speed. Ben turns his horse around and draws his gun. Maridai has freed herself and is crawling away. Zane and Amy are in a heated struggle. Amy is putting up a good fight. She pulls then loses her knife. Zane gets her pinned and is about to shoot her. He recognizes her and LAUGHS. ZANE Well, well, it seems to be my lucky day... Amy. AMY How do you know my name? ZANE You don’t remember me? I’m sure you remember Burt, Burt Meyers. AMY That piece of shit! ZANE That piece of shit is willing to pay a pretty penny for your head on a platter. You are a pretty little thing. 86.
Amy spits in his face. He KNOCKS her out with is gun. Black Heart sees this and charges Zane. The men fight. Black Heart has the upper hand. Ben arrives he takes aim on Zane and SHOOTS. The men roll missing the gunfire. Zane gets his hand on Amy’s knife. Amy wakes. Time slows. SILENCE. Amy witnesses Zane stab Black Heart. Time and SOUND return. She crawls to his aid. Ben and Zane fight in the background. Amy cradles Black Heart and sees he is mortally wounded. Black Heart looks at Amy and a sense of peace comes over him. AMY Oh my God. It’s okay. I can fix this, I have healing powers... remember? BLACK HEART Amy, it’s over. AMY Wake up! What about your vision? BLACK HEART You. You were my vision. It was you who needed healing. In return my heart now knows love. Amy’s tears fall. AMY Please. Don’t go. BLACK HEART The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears. He wipes her tears. Amy kisses him. He dies. The fight continues. Zane is about to shoot Ben. Amy kicks the gun away. Ben retrieves it and SHOOTS Zane dead. Ben stands over the body and spits on him. Maridai SOBS. Ben walks to her and kneels down and offers his hand. She shakes in fear. AMY Ben, you don’t think you are going to gain her trust with that bloody hand do you? Ben looks down at his bloody hand. 87.
EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - DAY The ranch is bustling. The men are hard at work. Will is now buff and extremely skillful. He is breaking a horse. Victor is watching him. Amy is riding Savior with Maridai on the back. Ben rides alongside them. They are noticed by one of the ranch hands. He lets out a WHISTLE. Victor turns to see them approaching. He starts to walk over, recognizes Ben, and then makes out Amy. Time slows. Their eyes meet. Amy smiles. BEN Father. VICTOR What took so long? BEN I’m not sure. But I’m here now. They hug. VICTOR I am so glad. BEN My god, I can’t believe my eyes. Is that Will out there? Victor locks eyes with Amy again. VICTOR Yes, go see him. He will be pleased you have arrived. Ben helps Maridai down first. Bonnie sees she is in need of help and rushes over. Bonnie escorts Maridai into the house. Ben runs over towards Will. VICTOR (CONT’D) Is it really you? AMY Yes. INT. LAWSON MONTANA BARN - NIGHT Amy is tending to Savior. Victor enters and watches her unnoticed for several moments. 88.
VICTOR I was there that night Amy. She starts to brush Savior. VICTOR (CONT’D) I think you should know all of what happened. He starts to approach her. VICTOR (CONT’D) It was late. Elizabeth and I had an argument. FLASHBACK: INT. BROTHEL 15 YEARS EARLIER - NIGHT The bar is empty except for Victor, Dan, and Levi. Dan is tending bar and has his vision. Victor and Levi are drinking and palling around. Upstairs a door CLOSES. Dirty cowboy #1 and dirty cowboy #2 exit the bedroom LAUGHING. They make their way to a couple of seats at the bar. Upstairs a suspicious Elaine enters the bedroom. Charity is passed out. Amy lays in the bed sucking her thumb. Elaine gets the attention of two of the whores to help her. ELAINE Draw her a bath. She needs to sober up. The two women escort Charity out of the room. Elaine looks in the bag then over at Amy. ELAINE (CONT’D) My God... Elaine heads down the stairs. She whispers in Levi’s ear. His expression turns fierce. He looks at the two dirty cowboys. Levi leans in and has a few words with Dan and Victor. LEVI Elaine, go take care of my baby. Victor lock the door. Victor LOCKS the door. The dirty cowboy #1 takes notice. Dan comes over the bar to subdue him. 89.
Dirty cowboy #2 smashes a beer mug into Dan’s face. His eyes begin to bleed. Victor and Levi fight the two dirty cowboys. VICTOR (V.O.) I’ve never seen a man so enraged. EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE DARKNESS - NIGHT Victor and Levi are finishing digging two graves. Victor holds up a lantern illuminating the two dirty cowboys. They are naked, beaten, and bound by their wrists. DIRTY COWBOY #2 Please, don’t do this. Levi gets in his face. LEVI (Seething) Is that what my baby said? You sick, twisted, piece of shit. DIRTY COWBOY #1 Please don’t kill us! I have a wife and children. LEVI I’m not gonna kill you. DIRTY COWBOY #1 You’re not? LEVI No. I’m not. I’m just gonna bury you. Victor looks taken back. We see a coffin in each hole. The dirty cowboys PLEAD from the inside of the boxes. Levi PILES the dirt on top of them. VICTOR (V.O.) I have never known evil... seen evil... been evil until that dark night. It started with those vile men like a flicker and then it spread through us like a wild fire. 90.
INT. BROTHEL BATHROOM - NIGHT Elaine shuts the bathroom door leaving a wasted Charity alone in the tub full of water. After a few moments Charity slips under the water, it SPLASHES over the edges. She drowns. Elaine wraps Amy in a blanket. Amy is catatonic. Elaine cradles her. Rocks her. And SINGS her a lullaby. INT. LAWSON MONTANA BARN PRESENT TIME - NIGHT Amy looks at Victor. She takes his hand and holds it to her chest. AMY It’s okay. It’s all behind us now. I know who you are. And I finally, know who I am. They embrace. INT. LAWSON CABIN MONTANA - MORNING Ben serves Maridai a plate of food. He sits across from her and begins to eat. BEN You need to eat. She stares at her food. BEN (CONT’D) You can’t change what happened. Maridai looks at Ben. BEN (CONT’D) I know the pain you are feeling. He killed my mother and my baby brother. He was only four. Carlos RUNS through the kitchen. Maria, with her swaddled newborn, follows quickly behind. MARIDAI How did it feel to kill him? BEN I don’t know, why? 91.
MARIDAI Because that is all I thought about when he was with me. BEN Honestly, I thought I would feel more. MARIDAI More? BEN Yeah. I thought it would take some of the pain away and I would feel more... happy. MARIDAI And do you? BEN No. I don’t. Eat. Maridai takes a small bite of her food. EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - MOMENTS LATER Carlos, Maria, and the baby exit to stroll the grounds. Miguel joins them. Amy and Will watch from the front porch while sipping coffee. Amy reaches into her pocket and hands Will something. His expression changes. WILL How did you get this? AMY No matter. I thought you should be the one to return it to its rightful owner. He is holding the necklace he gave to Sarah the night they made love. He has a memory of the moment. He is brought back by a playful SCREAM from Carlos. Will watches the family. AMY (CONT’D) Will, she’s pregnant. Very pregnant by now. Will looks deep in thought. Amy watches him and waits. WILL We have to go get her. 92.
Amy smiles. Will stands up determined. WILL (CONT’D) Now! AMY That is what I was hoping you’d say! EXT. GREAT PLAINS - DAY We focus on the hooves of many running horses. We see it’s Will, Amy, Victor, Ben, and Robert riding at full speed. INT. BROTHEL - DAY Two cronies drag Sarah down the stairs. They stand her in front of a table where Burt is sitting with another man, ROGER. He is slimy and reeks of dirty money. BURT Is this the one? ROGER Yes. However, she wasn’t in this condition the last time I came through here. BURT Well, obviously she won’t be in this condition forever. ROGER I’ll give you half of what we discussed. BURT Half?! Roger gets up to leave. BURT (CONT’D) Okay. Half! They shake hands. Roger winks at Sarah before leaving. BURT (CONT’D) It looks like I have secured you your first customer. SARAH What?! 93.
Sarah’s knees give out. The two cronies catch her under either arm. GUSH she looks down, her water has broken, soaking Burt’s shoes. BURT Get her out of here! They drag her upstairs. BURT (CONT’D) Someone clean up this mess! INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - DAY Elaine is running around frantically. Two women, MELISSA and GRACE are aiding her as she tends to Sarah. Sarah is in full blown labor. Sarah is pale, sweaty, and PANTING. Elaine helps Sarah to a standing position. Sarah is bearing down, she SCREAMS. Elaine looks down. ELAINE Something is wrong. Melissa quick get Doctor Halloran! Melissa looks horrified, then rushes out. ELAINE (CONT’D) Grace, go get Reverend Joseph. GRACE Why? ELAINE Just in case. GRACE Are you sure? ELAINE Yes. Sarah lets out a painful MOAN. ELAINE (CONT’D) Hurry, go now. Grace hovers. ELAINE (CONT’D) Go! 94.
Grace runs out. INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - AFTERNOON Elaine strokes Sarah’s hair. Doctor Halloran is trying to manipulate a breech baby out with no luck. Sarah is fading in and out of consciousness. Grace returns with Reverend Joseph. REVEREND JOSEPH My God! Dr. Halloran stands. DR. HALLORAN It’s useless. I’ve tried everything. ELAINE Isn’t there anything more we can do for her? DR. HALLORAN I’m afraid not. Dr. Halloran starts to pack up. REVEREND JOSEPH Wait, we can pray. They all bow their heads. REVEREND JOSEPH (CONT’D) Dear heavenly father, we ask that you bestow upon us a miracle of your greatest power for this young mother and her unborn child. In Jesus name we pray. INT. BROTHEL - EVENING Burt looks at his pocket watch. Dr. Halloran exits the upstairs bedroom carrying a body swaddled in a white sheet. He heads down the stairs and out the front door. Reverend Joseph holds Elaine by the arm and accompanies her down the stairs. She is holding a box. BURT (Annoyed) She’s dead? 95.
ELAINE You’d best hobble your lip! REVEREND JOSEPH Come child. We must go now. They leave together. EXT. MIDDLE OF TOWN - EVENING Amy and the boys have arrived and are riding slowly through town. Amy looks around. Businesses are abandoned, some burnt down, others with strange interlopers. VICTOR Something is wrong. I’ll get Miles and meet you all at the saloon. ROBERT I’ll accompany you. INT. SHERRIFF’S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER Miles is locked up and doing a set of pushups. Victor and Robert enter. Rufus is drunk. Miles sees them and stands. RUFUS (Slurring) What do you want? VICTOR We have come for our friend here. Rufus draws his gun. RUFUS As you can see, he is being detained. VICTOR I see that. RUFUS Are you gonna ask me why? VICTOR Why? RUFUS Cause he is a thievin son of a bitch. 96.
ROBERT Is that right? RUFUS Yeah. Victor grabs the gun from Rufus and turns it on him. VICTOR We both know that is bullshit. Where are the keys? Rufus point to them. Robert retrieves the keys and UNLOCKS the cell door. Miles exits. ROBERT You’re free to go sir. MILES Thank you. Miles gets in Rufus’s face. Rufus pees his pants. Miles strips his badge and then knocks him out cold. They drag Rufus in the cell and lock him up. VICTOR We have returned with Amy MILES Amy?! She’s alive? Where is she? VICTOR She went to get Sarah. Miles begins to arm himself. MILES Burt is now running this town. The whole damn place has gone up the spout! Miles throws the men some ammo. ROBERT Gentlemen let’s not waste any more time. Let’s get a wiggle on! EXT. BROTHEL - EVENING Amy peers into the window unseen. Burt and his cronies are playing cards. Burt is cheating. 97.
AMY There are six. She checks to see that her gun is fully loaded. AMY (CONT’D) I don’t see Sarah. WILL Why don’t we just walk in? You own this place, right? AMY Not anymore. That asshole Burt apparently hired Zane and his posse to rob and kill me. BEN You mean the day my mother was murdered? AMY Exactly, so this might not be so easy. BEN We’ll see about that. Ben, gun drawn, walks to the front door. Robert, Victor, and Miles arrive, draw their weapons, and join him. INT. BROTHEL - MOMENTS LATER The men enter, guns drawn. The cronies stand and draw their guns. Burt stays seated. He looks up from his cards. Amy comes in. Burt LAUGHS at the sight of her. AMY Where is Sarah? BURT You’re too late. AMY What do you mean I’m too late? Did she have the baby? BURT No, she was a failure at that too. She died tryin’ before I could make a penny off her. 98.
AMY You’re lying. Amy runs upstairs. BURT See for yourself! At the top of the stairs a woman gives Amy a “sorry” look. Amy slows down, now cautious. Amy opens the bedroom door. The hinges CREAK. A chaotic scene is revealed, blood pooled on the floor, blood stained towels and sheets. Amy is consumed with grief. Her reaction sets Will off. He runs up the stairs and peers over Amy’s shoulder. Will’s reaction is primal. It sets Ben off. Ben charges Burt. The advance starts a SHOOT OUT. The men take cover. Miles is dropping them like flies. Ben wails on Burt. Will walks down the stairs in a state of shock. The bullets WHIZ by him. He exits unharmed. Amy reacts. She grabs a kerosene lamp douses the bedding, and STRIKES a match. The flicker catches in her eye. She flicks the match onto the mattress. It IGNITES. INT. CHURCH - MOMENTS LATER The church is empty. Light streams in through the stained glass window. Will enters stoic. He stares at the cross over the pulpit. He drops to his knees. Cocks his pistol. Puts the barrel in his mouth and pressures the trigger. A baby CRIES. He stands. Walks to a nearby curtain and PULLS it back, revealing a small room. Sarah sits on the floor trying to nurse a newborn baby. Elaine sits close by. After a moment Will rushes in to cradle Sarah and the baby. SARAH Will! She cries. ELAINE It’s a girl. He looks at them. WILL She is beautiful. She looks like you. 99.
SARAH Her name is Elizabeth, after your Mother. WILL She would be honored. ELAINE Son, what in the hell took you so long? WILL Amy. ELAINE Amy? Is she here? She’s alive? WILL Yes. But she thinks you’re dead. SARAH You have to go get her. Will stands. ELAINE You stay here. I’ll go. Will hands Elaine his gun. WILL You’re gonna need this. ELAINE Hell, yeah. EXT. MIDDLE OF TOWN - MOMENTS LATER The sun has set. Elaine marches towards the burning brothel. The GUNFIRE gets LOUDER as she approaches. Miles and Robert exit the burning building COUGHING. INT. BROTHEL - MOMENTS LATER Amy is the only one shooting. She is systematically destroying the bar. With every shot bottles, mugs, and lamps SHATTER. Ben is strangling Burt with his bare hands. The other cronies lie dead. The fire is out of control. VICTOR Amy, Ben, let’s go! 100.
Amy runs out of ammo. She heads for the door grabbing Victor’s hand. He motions her to go on. She leaves COUGHING. Ben is in a frenzy, choking Burt, when he hears his dad’s voice as if it were in a tunnel. VICTOR (CONT’D) (Tunneled) Ben, let’s go. The building is gonna come down! Come on son... he’s not worth it! Ben comes around. Victor frees Ben’s grip and starts to help Burt out. Ben assists him. Burt pulls away to return for his money. Victor and Ben make it out just before the building collapses. Killing Burt. Elaine approaches behind Amy. ELAINE Burn, baby burn! AMY Elaine! They embrace. ELAINE Shucks, it looks like I missed all the fun. AMY Sarah.. ELAINE Shhh, honey she’s okay. AMY What? I thought she was dead?! ELAINE No, she is just fine. AMY Where is she? ELAINE They are at the church. AMY They? ELAINE Yes honey her, Will, and the baby. 101.
AMY The baby too? Are you sure? ELAINE Yes honey. Go! AMY Thank you God! INT. CHURCH - MOMENTS LATER The church is lit up with candle light. We see Amy and Victor enter the church. Amy goes to Sarah. Sarah tries to stand but is too weak. Amy gets down on the floor and hugs her. Amy looks her over. She is wearing her necklace from Will. Will is cradling baby Liz. He shows the baby to Amy and then his father. WILL It’s a girl. VICTOR Wow. Son. She is perfect. WILL I know. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful. Robert and Ben enter. ROBERT Did I hear it’s a girl! My Lord! She’s a peach! BEN What is her name? WILL Elizabeth, after mother. BEN Can I hold her? Ben cradles the child. INT. BEAUTY SHOP - DAY - ONE YEAR LATER Elaine has built a beauty shop where the brothel once stood. A sign out front reads, “Elaine’s House of Beauty”. Dan PLAYS the piano for the ladies while they work. Elaine looks out the window. 102.
She sees Miles patrolling the streets with a new deputy. Margaret rides by on a feeble Molly. ELAINE (Under her breath) I can’t believe that thing is still alive. MELISSA Miss Elaine, did you say something? ELAINE No, honey. Freddie runs to catch up with Margaret. Elaine smiles and waves at him. He blushes, smiles, and waves back. The front door opens and a bell RINGS. A courier enters. He delivers a letter to Elaine. ELAINE (CONT’D) Girls pack your bags. We have a wedding to attend. The girls SQUEAL. EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - DAY The ranch is decked out for a wedding. Ben and Will play with Elizabeth. The round-up gang are all dressed up. INT. LAWSON CABIN MONTANA - DAY Elaine, Sarah, and Amy are in an upstairs bedroom. SARAH I better go check on Liz. I love you! You look beautiful. Sarah hugs Amy and leaves. Elaine stares out the window. She is watching the round-up gang. ELAINE Are you sure you want to settle down with one man for the rest of your life? AMY Yes. I’m sure. ELAINE Come. Look at them all down there! They are all so fetching. 103.
Amy peeks over Elaine’s shoulder. AMY I’m sure. Amy is dressed in a simple white, lace wedding gown. Bonnie enters with a tray of beverages. BONNIE Oh look at you. You’re stunning! Bonnie kisses Amy lovingly. Sets down the drinks. And leaves. Elaine cuts her eyes at Bonnie as she exits. AMY What? She’s delightful. Amy sits on the bed and plays with the fabric of her dress. ELAINE White huh? AMY Yes, some of us can wear it honestly. ELAINE No? AMY Yes. ELAINE Then what have you been doing out here for the past year child? AMY Catching up. ELAINE What if he can’t get it up? AMY Elaine! You’re incorrigible. ELAINE Yes I am. AMY Elaine, why did you stay all those years? ELAINE What do you mean? 104.
AMY So many women came and went but you... you were the only one that stayed. Why? ELAINE Honey, I don’t know. AMY Yes you do. Why? ELAINE Cause I fell in love, that’s why. AMY That’s great! With who? ELAINE I fell in love with an amazing little girl, who needed me... and I vowed to her, you, years ago that I would always be there to protect you and love you the way you deserved. AMY Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done without you. ELAINE It’s me who should be thanking you. Every day you filled my heart child... and I didn’t want to deprive man kind of my talents. Amy LAUGHS. There is a KNOCK at the door. AMY Come in. MILES It’s time sunshine. Are you ready? AMY I’m beyond ready. EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - MOMENTS LATER Everyone has turned out for the big event. Sarah, Will, and Liz sit together in the front row. Robert and Bonnie wheel out Frances and Gammy Mac. Victor stands with a reverend. 105.
Everyone stands. The MUSIC starts. Miles walks Amy down the aisle. Amy locks eyes with Victor. SILENCE. We hear her heart BEAT, her every BREATH. SOUND returns. Amy takes Victor’s hand. REVEREND We gather here today to join together in holy matrimony Victor Lawson and Amy Vass. MONTAGE: We see images of Amy and Victor’s past moments together. We then see images of them over the past year at the Montana ranch. Several images of the wedding ceremony. The many people who have gathered. REVEREND (CONT’D) Do you Victor take Amy to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live? VICTOR I do. REVEREND Amy do you take Victor to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live? AMY Yes. With all my heart. I do. REVEREND Victor, you may kiss your bride. They KISS! ELAINE That’s my girl! The crowd CHEERS! Amy throws her bouquet up into the air. The sun lights up her smiling face. FADE OUT. 106.

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Black Heart_Michelle Petty & Vicki Gentes

  • 1.
    BLACK HEART Written by MichellePetty & Vicki Gentes Michelleatobx@aol.com/Vpg133@yahoo.com Phone: (252) 256-1922/ (252) 489-3391
  • 2.
    FADE IN: EXT. LATE1800’S BROTHEL - DAY ELAINE, a stouthearted, robust, middle-aged woman sits on the stoop fanning herself. DAN, a blind, middle-aged man sits beside her. KYLE, a young man in a suit, approaches with flowers. ELAINE Oh Lord. Here comes another one. DAN One what? ELAINE A suitor for Amy. Don’t they know? DAN Know what? ELAINE That they are going to get shot down. Lucky for you, you don’t have to see it. It’s pathetic. Like watching a little baby lamb headin’ to slaughter. KYLE Howdy Miss Elaine, Dan, is Amy here? ELAINE Hi Kyle, yeah she is but maybe now is not such a good time? KYLE Yes Ma'am, but you said that last week too. ELAINE Oh did I? KYLE Yeah, you did... and I keep having to wash up-n-all and I picked the last of my mama’s nice flowers. DAN They smell good.
  • 3.
    KYLE Yes Sir, thankyou. So may I please go in and see her? ELAINE Okay, sure honey. Good luck. INT. WELL KEPT BROTHEL - MOMENTS LATER Kyle enters. AMY, a dispirited, twenty something, dark featured woman is tending bar. KYLE Howdy Amy. I mean good day... ma’am... I mean Amy. AMY Hi Kyle. Why are you dressed like that? Why do you have flowers? Did someone die? KYLE I don’t think anyone died. I just thought you might like some flowers. AMY No. I don’t. I don’t like flowers. The smell reminds me of a funeral. KYLE Oh, right, of course. I know that you have fallen on some hard times since your father’s passing and all. So I thought I’d ask you... Kyle gets down on one knee. AMY Oh no! KYLE If you... you might like to accompany me for some dinner or a stroll along the river? AMY Is that all? KYLE Well, I guess, unless there is something else you might like to do. 2.
  • 4.
    AMY Then why areyou on the floor? Get up! Kyle stands. AMY (CONT’D) No. KYLE No what? Not at the river? AMY No. No walk. No flowers. No dinner. No to it all! Please leave. EXT. FRONT STOOP - MOMENTS LATER Kyle dejected, hands the flowers to Elaine. She smells them. Kyle leaves. Elaine tosses the flowers into a nearby barrel filled with old bouquets. ELAINE Lord, it’s gonna take a force of nature to crack that shell. EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN - DAY The sun blazes as a small posse of cowboys approach town. Two men, LANNY and RILEY lead the group. Lanny, once refined is now rough around the edges. Riley, suffers from Tourette’s syndrome, his body and face move with ticks and twitches. LANNY My God! It’s as hot as a whorehouse on nickel night. I can’t wait to get off of this fucking horse. RILEY Do nnnnott use the gggg..good lords name in vain. LANNY Don’t start up with that religious shit again Riley. What you tellin’ me you ain't up for some whiskey and some women? 3.
  • 5.
    RILEY Nnno, I meanyyyes, I sssuppose so. LANNY Good. Then my God, shut the fuck up for once. And that might just happen. The posse continues towards town. EXT. HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN - DAY BURT, a fat bully and coward, stands on his porch, and lights a pipe. He watches Lanny and Riley as they tie their horses up outside the brothel. LANNY How much dinero you got? Riley guards his pocket defensively. RILEY Eeeenough, why? LANNY Cause you owe me for saving your damn life again. Lanny forcefully takes Riley’s money. LANNY (CONT’D) Thank you kindly. Suddenly, two men in a heated struggle, fall through the doors of the brothel, rolling past Lanny and Riley who are not fazed. Burt, still watching, WHISTLES waving Lanny and Riley over. EXT. SMALL HORSE RANCH - EVENING VICTOR LAWSON, a rugged man in his early forties, is skillfully breaking in a mare. BEN, a young man of twenty, assists. VICTOR Whoa, whoa, down girl. BEN She is a proud one eh? 4.
  • 6.
    VICTOR Yeah, she’s hardto break. The horse calms. VICTOR (CONT’D) There, she’s learning to trust us. SCOUT, a four year old boy watches on. While WILL, a teenage boy, sits back from the action sketching a masterpiece. SCOUT You did it Pop! VICTOR Yeah, your old man’s still got it. A woman appears at the front door of the humble ranch house. ELIZABETH is overdressed. She catches Will’s eye and motions him in. Will WHISTLES rounding up the rest of the group. INT. VICTOR LAWSON’S FARM HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER The family gathers for dinner. The house is modest in size but lavishly decorated. Elizabeth smiles and looks around the table until she gets to Ben. ELIZABETH Benjamin, I do not understand why you defy me. All I requested was you wash up for dinner. Ben reaches over the table for some bread. Victor grabs Ben’s hand sternly. He drops the loaf. VICTOR Son, go wash up. Ben leaves the room. The rest of the family eats in SILENCE. Ben returns, clean. He glares at his mother as he sits. ELIZABETH Will drew the most magnificent landscape today. You have outdone yourself again Will. I believe your art will grace the walls of a fine museum one day. The boys scarf down their food, uninterested. Ben, stops eating. 5.
  • 7.
    ELIZABETH (CONT’D) Yes, Benjamin? BEN Idon’t know what world you’re livin’ in Mother but I have not seen any art museums around here lately. ELIZABETH Why do you speak to me with such disrespect? Ben jumps up from his chair. WILL Ben, stop. VICTOR Son, sit down. Ben points to the china cabinet. BEN No really Mother, look at all this hoity toity stuff. Have you looked out the window lately? We’re not living in Paris or New York City or some fancy place like that. Elizabeth tears up. Scout climbs into her lap. ELIZABETH If you don’t like our fine home, you may leave. Ben goes to exit, catching his reflection in the glass of one of Will’s framed drawings. He punches the picture SHATTERING the glass. He leaves SLAMMING the door. INT. BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER Elizabeth sits on the bed SOBBING. Victor enters and leans against the dresser. ELIZABETH I’m tired Victor. It is quite the undertaking to maintain such a fine home for you and the boys. I disdain this town and all the deadbeats in it. And Benjamin, he is starting to turn into one of them. (MORE) 6.
  • 8.
    You promised ifwe did not have the ranch up and going by now we would move back to Richmond. VICTOR I realize it has taken a lot longer than expected, but you have to be patient with things like this. ELIZABETH Patient? I have been more than patient! Honestly, Victor I do not understand why you insist on staying here. Victor shrugs his shoulders and looks out the window. INT. BROTHEL - NIGHT Amy is tending bar. Lanny’s posse are drinking, smoking, playing poker, and flirting with the whores. Elaine watches everyone like a mother hen. Dan is PLAYING the piano. SARAH, a blonde and moody teenage girl, is wiping off tables. Riley watches Sarah like prey and begins to twitch. Ben has joined Lanny and Riley’s posse. They are all intoxicated and having a good time. RILEY (Outburst) Tits! Shit! Ben leans in to Lanny. BEN Why does he keep doing that? LANNY Awe, he can’t help it none. He is always like that. It just gets worse when he’s on a bender. BEN Is he on a bender now? LANNY Yeah, he’s as full as a tic... Hey, we’re planning on headin’ out in a couple of days if you’re serious about lighting a shuck. Me and my partners here just have a bit of business to wind up first. ELIZABETH (CONT'D) 7.
  • 9.
    BEN Yeah, I’m serious.The sooner the better. Riley stumbles over to Sarah. RILEY Varmint! Stink! Sarah is startled. Riley grabs her. SARAH Let me go! What are you doing?! RILEY Come on girl, I want a poke at you. The posse is amused. LANNY I swear that boy’s dumb as a rock. Amy takes notice of the commotion and runs over to help. Amy punches Riley. Sarah, now free, slides in behind her. AMY This girl is not for sale! Amy point to Elaine. AMY (CONT’D) Miss Elaine can find you one who is. Riley starts to shake. RILEY No..nnn..nno, I wwant thhis one. AMY Last time I’m gonna tell you. She is not for sale. RILEY Hell! Cock! Shit..cock shit! Riley grabs Amy by the throat and pins her to the wall. JOHNNY, the middle aged bartender, motions for a concerned patron to stand down. AMY This is my saloon and now I’m gonna have to ask you to leave. 8.
  • 10.
    Riley smiles. Runshis tongue up her face. Amy slowly lifts the side of her skirt revealing a large, bead handled, knife fastened to her leg. She slides it from its sheath and presses the steel blade into his balls. AMY (CONT’D) With or without your two little friends here. Riley releases Amy and holds his balls. Amy escorts Sarah up the stairs, while signaling Johnny to ensure Riley leaves. Lanny stumbles up to Riley. LANNY You just keep holdin’ on to them there berries, cause that's the only play they’re gonna get tonight. INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER Sarah and Amy are in a room with two single beds. There is a photo of the two of them with an older man. SARAH You do not always have to come to my aid. I had the situation under control. AMY It did not appear so. SARAH Ever since father died you act like you are my mother and you’re not. AMY No, I am not. But I am the closes thing you have to one. Sarah throws a vase at Amy. She catches it. SARAH How would you know? Your mother was a whore! AMY I don’t care a continental what my mother was. 9.
  • 11.
    SARAH Cause she waswhore. AMY I know what’s best for you. SARAH You couldn’t possibly. My mother was a wholesome women and she loved me. AMY I love you. But sometimes I’m not sure why. Sarah lays on the bed and looks at the photo of their father. SARAH I’m sorry. I just miss him. Why is life so unfair? AMY Because it is. Do you think any of this is what I wanted for my life? INT. BROTHEL - DAY There are no customers. Amy counts a stack of cash behind the bar. Johnny is serving Dan whose eating lunch. Burt comes waltzing in. Dan SNIFFS the air. DAN Johnny, do you smell bacon and cheap cologne, or is that cat piss? JOHNNY Well friend that smell seems to be coming from our buddy Burp here, who has decided to grace us with his presence and subsequently his odor. Dan slides his food away. The group LAUGHS, except Burt. BURT Let’s get something straight, first of all its Burt, not Burp, I’m not your buddy, and I’m the one who is gonna be laughing if I don’t get my money by tomorrow night per our agreement. 10.
  • 12.
    AMY You’ll get yourmoney. BURT We’ll see, if not, this place will have new ownership. Burt smiles fiendishly and leaves. JOHNNY Smell you later. MILES, the town sheriff enters. JOHNNY (CONT’D) Howdy Sheriff. MILES Good day. Miles puts one hand on Dan’s back, Dan shakes his other. DAN How ya doin’ Miles? MILES Oh, I can’t complain. I just thought I’d stop in and check on my favorite niece. Was Burt bothering you? AMY He is always a bother. What was my father thinking borrowing money from that weasel? MILES My brother didn’t make the best decisions but lord knows his heart was always in the right place. DAN Amen. JOHNNY I’ll drink to that. Amy pours a round of shots. AMY Here’s to a good man who never stopped trying to be a better man. 11.
  • 13.
    MEN Here, here... They allCLANK glasses and sling back their whiskey. EXT. MIDDLE OF TOWN - DAY Victor pulls into town on a carriage with Elizabeth, Will, and Scout. Will is sketching a picture of Sarah. They stop. Will aids Elizabeth and Scout down. Victor waits behind. INT. GENERAL STORE - MOMENTS LATER Will is gathering art supplies when he is alerted by Sarah’s presence. Sarah and Amy are admiring a necklace. SARAH I can’t believe it is still here. It’s so beautiful. AMY Come, we can’t afford such things. Unnoticed, Will’s eyes remain fixed on Sarah as she leaves. EXT. MIDDLE OF TOWN - MOMENTS LATER Victor spots Amy and Sarah strolling down the street. Time slows. He is transfixed on Amy until she is out of sight. Will, clutching a small package, startles Victor back to reality by jumping into the carriage. VICTOR Did you get what you wanted son? WILL (Devilishly) Yeah. VICTOR What is taking your mother so long? INT. GENERAL STORE - MOMENTS LATER The STORE CLERK is looking through a log book. 12.
  • 14.
    STORE CLERK I’m sorryMrs. Lawson, your materials didn't come in today. I’m sure they will be here tomorrow. ELIZABETH I certainly hope so. I will see you then. Elizabeth grabs Scout by the hand and storms out. EXT. MEADOW - NIGHT Will spreads out a quilt. A female figure approaches. WILL You came. SARAH Yes, but it wasn’t easy getting away from that house of hens. WILL But you always seem to manage. Will kisses her gently and lays her down on the blanket. WILL (CONT’D) I got something for you. SARAH What? For me? Will pulls out a gift wrapped box. SARAH (CONT’D) What is it? WILL Open it. Sarah opens the box, it is the necklace she had been admiring in the store earlier. Will puts it on her. SARAH How did you know? WILL I just thought it might complement your bright smile. 13.
  • 15.
    They make sweetlove. INT. BROTHEL - DAY Elaine is playing Texas Holdem with a few local cowboys. Dan is dealing, despite being blind he is doing a good job. Johnny is behind the bar. Elaine has a large pile of money and is reading everyone’s tell. COWBOY #1 picks up his cards. COWBOY #1 Damn it! DAN Nice poker face, are you in or not? COWBOY #1 Shit, I fold. COWBOY #2 assesses his hand. COWBOY #2 Hmmm, does the lady have it or not? Elaine begins to fan herself with her cards. ELAINE I’m feeling a little flushed. COWBOY #2 Ah, bullshit. Cowboy #2 goes all in. COWBOY #3 throws his cards down. COWBOY #3 I’m out. Elaine matches the pot. ELAINE Let the best man win. Dan deals revealing a low spade then a diamond. ELAINE (CONT’D) What do you have there buddy boy? They each reveal their hands. They both have a flush but Elaine wins with the higher card. She lets out a hardy LAUGH. 14.
  • 16.
    DAN What? What happened? COWBOY#1 Well it looks like my boy here just got spanked by a middle aged whore. COWBOY #3 Isn’t the first time. COWBOY #1 True, but I bet it ain’t never cost that much before. Elaine gathers the money and stuffs it into her bustle. ELAINE Nice doing business with you. Cowboy #2 kicks over his chair and takes a seat at the bar. Johnny pours him a drink JOHNNY Bend an elbow. This one’s on me. INT. VICTOR LAWSON’S FARM HOUSE - DAY Ben is packing a duffel bag. He checks the clock then leaves. INT. GENERAL STORE - MOMENTS LATER Elizabeth and Scout are shopping. Amy is also shopping and oblivious to their presence. ELIZABETH Scout darling, please put that down and accompany me over here. Amy is now alerted to, and interested in Elizabeth. INT. BURT’S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER Burt is standing in a second story window. He checks his pocket watch, puffs his pipe, and peeks out the window. INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER Miles and his DEPUTY are kicked back at their desks. 15.
  • 17.
    EXT. BEHIND THEBROTHEL - MOMENTS LATER Lanny, Riley, and their posse ride up. They fasten bandanas around their faces. One man, ZANE, a dark and cold man, refuses. They all file into the brothel with their guns drawn. Zane makes his way up the stairs. LANNY Everyone kindly, get down on the fucking floor! Now! Everyone drops except for Dan. Riley is agitated by this. RILEY Fffu..fucc..fuucckking..Get down! LANNY Forget about him. Just Get everyone’s loot! Lanny forces Johnny up and toward the cash register. LANNY (CONT’D) Empty it. Riley goes through everyone’s pockets to claim their wallets, until he gets to Elaine. RILEY You.. you got any pockets? Riley goes to frisk Elaine. She smacks his hands away. ELAINE Watch it buddy. That kind of action will cost you. Riley flustered moves along. Elaine pushes a bill peeking out back into her cleavage. Johnny inadvertently cuts his eyes to a small box. LANNY Well, well, well, what do we have here? Lanny cocks his pistol. LANNY (CONT’D) Pick it up. Johnny picks up the box. 16.
  • 18.
    LANNY (CONT’D) Open it. Johnnyopens the box revealing a large stack of money. Lanny grabs the money and throws it into a bag. He calls up the stairs to Zane. LANNY (CONT’D) Get the girl and pony up! Time lapses. LANNY (CONT’D) Come on fellows, let’s go! The posse files out. LANNY (CONT’D) Where the hell is Zane? INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER Zane is ransacking the room. Sarah and a couple of whores are huddled in the corner. Zane spots the photograph of Amy with her dad and Sarah. He picks it up. Zane pulls Sarah out of the heap by her hair. ZANE Where is your sister? SARAH She is not here. I don’t know where she is. Sarah faints. Zane catches her. He cuts the gifted necklace off her and lets her DROP to the floor. Zane makes his way out and down the stairs. He FIRES his gun. A chandelier come CRASHING down. Dan, startled, pulls a gun FIRING nowhere near Zane. Zane LAUGHS and exits. EXT. BEHIND THE BROTHEL - MOMENTS LATER LANNY Well, where is she? ZANE She’s not here. 17.
  • 19.
    LANNY God damit! Thatfat bastard said she’d be here! RILEY Yyyou.. used.. LANNY Not now Riley. Fuck! Well, we got our loot. Let’s skedaddle! The posse rides off. INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER Miles hears GUNFIRE. He and the deputy arm themselves. The room is suddenly SPRAYED with gunfire as the posse passes outside. Miles is hit in the arm. EXT. MIDDLE OF TOWN - MOMENTS LATER As the posse rides through town, Zane sees Amy through the window of the General Store. He aims to shoot her. INT. GENERAL STORE - MOMENTS LATER Amy stands in line. Elizabeth is in line behind her holding Scout. Scout DROPS some change. Zane FIRES. Amy bends down to pick up the fallen change. The bullet blazes through the window, Scout’s back, and into Elizabeth’s heart. They DROP. Amy SCREAMS. EXT. MIDDLE OF TOWN - MOMENTS LATER Ben rides up to see the posse riding away. He hears SCREAMING. The store clerk carries the lifeless bodies into the street. Ben runs up and grabs them both and collapses. BEN No. Oh God, no. Ben SCREAMS. It ECHOES off into the distance. Then SILENCE. 18.
  • 20.
    INT. BROTHEL -DAY Johnny and Elaine, both in black, are cleaning up the shattered bar. Burt enters, his STEPS fill the silence. BURT I see you are in your best bib and tucker. You all headin’ somewhere? SILENCE. BURT (CONT’D) What no chit chat today? As promised I’m here to collect my debt or collect my saloon. Which is it gonna be? Elaine stops and stares Burt down. BURT (CONT’D) It was unfortunate though, to hear those bandits took you for all you have. What a shame. Burt gets in Johnny’s face. Johnny puffs up. BURT (CONT’D) What’s wrong funny guy? Cat got your tongue? Elaine breaks in the middle of the men. ELAINE I know you are behind this Burt Myers. You had better watch your back and sleep with one eye open because when you’re not looking, Satan himself will be coming for you and your pathetic little soul. Burt leans back. Elaine leans in closer. ELAINE (CONT’D) Amy! There’s a rat here to see you. Amy enters stunning in black with a confident demeanor. BURT It’s pay day. AMY You know I don’t have it. We were robbed. 19.
  • 21.
    BURT Oh no. Wellwe both know what that means. AMY It means you’re an asshole. ELAINE Stop. I’ll handle this. Elaine reaches into her cleavage and pulls out a wad of cash. ELAINE (CONT’D) Here’s you money asshole. Elaine SMACKS the cash into Burt’s chest. He instinctively catches most of it. Elaine throws Burt out onto the street. She gathers a few missed bills and throws them out after him. ELAINE (CONT’D) It’s all there dickless! Amy and Johnny are shocked. ELAINE (CONT’D) What? Do you think I stay here for the money? Please. JOHNNY Just when I think I know you... AMY Thank you. JOHNNY Come on ladies, we have a funeral to attend. AMY On second thought, I’m just gonna stay here and clean up. ELAINE Are you sure honey? AMY Yeah, you all just go on with out me and give Victor my best. ELAINE I think it would mean a lot more coming from you. He was there for you once... remember? 20.
  • 22.
    AMY Yes, I remember.I just can’t... EXT. VICTOR LAWSON’S RANCH - DAY Elizabeth and Scout are dressed in their finest and nestled together in a single coffin. Victor and Ben stand stoically. Will is shaken and holds Sarah’s hand. REVEREND JOSEPH, closes his bible and looks down in prayer. REVEREND JOSEPH Amen. EVERYONE Amen. Reverend Joseph approaches Victor. REVEREND JOSEPH May the love of Christ be with you, to comfort you and guide you, during this trying time. Victor shakes the Reverend’s hand. REVEREND JOSEPH (CONT’D) Take solace in knowing that they are together, safe, and eternal in his all mighty kingdom. VICTOR (Knowingly agrees) Yes. Ben stares down at the coffin as it is being lowered into the ground. He suddenly launches, throwing himself over the wooden box. He begins to BEAT on it. BEN No. Please. Victor waves the crowd, forming, off. VICTOR Ben, it will be okay. BEN No, it wont. Can’t you see? They’re gone. Victor places a strong hand on Ben’s back. Ben stands. 21.
  • 23.
    BEN (CONT’D) I’m gonnakill those sons of bitches! I swear. I am. I’m gonna find’em and I am gonna kill every last one of’em. VICTOR And what good would that do? BEN What good would it do? It would guarantee those bastards would never hurt anyone again, that’s what good it would do! VICTOR I suppose so, but it won’t bring them back son. And you would forever have to live with the murder of those men on your soul. Trust me, I know it’s a heavy burden for a good man’s heart to carry. BEN Are you saying we should let those murderers get away with what they did?! VICTOR No, the law will be after them. And God, he has his own plan. I know this is hard for you to understand right now. Hell, it’s hard for us all to understand.. BEN Yeah, cause it’s bullshit. VICTOR One of the toughest challenges in life is not letting the evil in this world turn you into exactly what you hate. BEN Killin em’ is not gonna make me one of em. VICTOR I beg to differ. BEN What do you know of it anyway? 22.
  • 24.
    VICTOR More than youthink. MONTAGE: Victor deep in thought sitting on his bed. Ben working his hands bloody in the stables. Will sits by the headstone of his mother’s grave sketching. Victor receives a letter. Victor’s bedroom is bare. He packs a box with one of Scout’s toys and a picture of Elizabeth. EXT. RIVER - DAY Amy is fishing off the bank. Victor approaches. VICTOR I thought I might find you here. AMY This place holds a lot of fond memories. VICTOR You know Amy, what happened was not your fault. Victor sits alongside Amy. AMY I don’t know, sometimes I would see her around town and secretly wonder why you were with her. I’m sorry. VICTOR Sorry about what? AMY I don’t know, everything I guess. VICTOR Amy, it’s okay, I know that you are not good with things like this. Amy keeps her gaze fixed on the water. VICTOR (CONT’D) We’re leaving Amy. 23.
  • 25.
    Amy finally giveshim the first look. AMY What? What do you mean? VICTOR I mean, me and the boys are moving. AMY Where? VICTOR Montana. AMY Montana? Why? VICTOR Well, in light of the news of Elizabeth and Scouts passing, my brother, Robert has sent word that his ranch in Montana is in need of some extra hands. AMY So you’re leaving to help your brother? VICTOR Yes, there’s that and I think my boys need a change of scenery. It will be good for us all to be around family right now. AMY Will you be returning? VICTOR No. I don’t think so. AMY What about Sarah? You know she adores Will. VICTOR Since when have you wanted those two to be together? I thought you would at least be pleased about that. Amy looks away again. 24.
  • 26.
    VICTOR (CONT’D) It’s younglove. They will get over it. AMY Will I? VICTOR What? AMY I mean, will they? VICTOR Sure they will. You remember what that’s like don’t you? AMY No. I don’t. VICTOR (Knowingly) Right, you never had that luxury. AMY No. I didn’t. When are you leaving? VICTOR Tomorrow. AMY Tomorrow? Victor stands and helps Amy to her feet. VICTOR Yes, but before I go. I wanted to leave you with something. Victor caresses Amy’s face and kisses her. INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - MORNING Amy is having a horrific nightmare. She WHIMPERS. FLASHBACK: 15 YEARS EARLIER INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - NIGHT Amy is a young girl. She is in a nightgown pretending to be asleep. The room is filled with dim light and smoke. 25.
  • 27.
    Her mother CHARITYis at a nearby table drinking whiskey. Amy peeks up at her mother with one eye. CHARITY What are you looking at? AMY Mommy, aren’t you gonna sleep? There is a KNOCK at the door. Charity opens it. It is two dirty cowboys. DIRTY COWBOY #1 is holding a bag. CHARITY Did you get it? DIRTY COWBOY #1 Yeah, not so quick. Where is the little filly you promised? Charity opens the door wide revealing little Amy. DIRTY COWBOY #2 You’re right. She is a pretty little thing. DIRTY COWBOY #1 Sweet meat. Just how I like em’. The men enter. Amy SCREAMS. RETURN TO PRESENT. INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - MORNING Sarah is trying to wake Amy from her nightmare. SARAH Wake up. Amy wake up! Miss Elaine! Help! Elaine comes running in. ELAINE Oh my, how long has she been like this? SARAH I don’t know. I just woke up to find her this way. 26.
  • 28.
    ELAINE Here, move. Iknow what to do. Elaine cradles Amy. She rocks her gently and SINGS her a lullaby. Amy is now peaceful. ELAINE (CONT’D) Hand me that blanket. Elaine covers Amy. ELAINE (CONT’D) (Whispering) She’s okay. SARAH What was that? ELAINE Just a bad dream honey. She used to get them a lot as a child. SARAH I wonder what sparked that? ELAINE Come. Let’s let her rest. They exit. Rain begins to POUR against the window. Amy awakens. She goes to the window. She sees Victor, Ben, and Will outside the brothel with their packed wagon. Sarah runs up and embraces Will. They say their good-byes. Victor senses Amy and looks toward her window. She hides. Amy stays hidden until the WAGON pulls away. EXT. GREAT PLAINS - DAY Lanny, Zane, and a few posse members gather for coffee. Riley is asleep holding a worn bible to his chest. LANNY I reckon that storm will be upon us here soon if we don’t get a move on. ZANE Yep. 27.
  • 29.
    LANNY I was thinkingit’s about a half a day’s ride to the next town. Lanny points to the foothills of the Rockies. LANNY (CONT’D) If we follow that there ridge north, we will cross a river, we can water our horses there, then pick up the rail headed west. That will take us into the next town. And the way I figure, we have scored us enough loot to have us a real fine time. The posse begin to load up on their horses. POSSE MEMBER #1 You ain’t worried about the law catching up with us none? LANNY I don’t think they are gonna spend much time fetching a pocket full of whore house money. POSSE MEMBER #2 I think he is talking about Zane burning a hole through that woman and her boy. POSSE MEMBER #1 Yeah, ain’t many folks gonna take kindly to no baby killer. LANNY What boy? POSSE MEMBER #2 You know, in that store, I saw em, it blazed right through em! Lanny looks at Zane who is now mounted on his horse. LANNY Baby killin’ was never discussed in our arrangement. Zane draws his gun on Lanny. 28.
  • 30.
    ZANE Yeah, you’re right,but neither was listening to that retard of yours babbling all the fucking time. Lanny puts his hands up defensively and kicks Riley. He doesn’t wake. ZANE (CONT’D) I’ll be taking your stash there. Lanny hands him a satchel. ZANE (CONT’D) Thank you, kindly. You are right, this should render a real fine time. Zane looks to the foothills as the storm closes in. ZANE (CONT’D) So about a half a day’s ride huh? Well then, I don’t see any need to carry all this here baggage. Zane SHOOTS many posse members. Lanny takes cover. Riley is startled awake, he stands with a morning woody and his bible. Zane aims to shoot Riley in the head. Riley looks down at his erection. This momentarily distracts Zane. Riley chucks his bible knocking Zane’s gun to the ground. Lanny retrieves it. Zane draws a second weapon. There is a SHOOT out. Zane retreats on his horse. Lanny and Riley are the last men standing. The rest of the posse and all the horses are dead. THUNDER CLAPS and rain begins to pour down. INT. BROTHEL - MORNING Amy enters the bar from a back room. Elaine is at the bar smoking a cigar. AMY Good morning. Elaine blows out a large bellow of smoke. ELAINE Good morning. Elaine takes another puff and blows it in Amy’s face. 29.
  • 31.
    AMY It’s a littleearly for that isn’t it? And since when have you started smoking? Elaine extinguishes the cigar. ELAINE Oh honey, I’m not smoking. AMY Then what are you doing? Amy starts to wipe the bar down with a towel. ELAINE Well, I am sitting here taking stock of the last time I saw Sarah up and about. You know she has done nothing but sleep in that bed since her little artist boyfriend left town. AMY So, she is taking it hard. Elaine SCREECHES her stool back. She grabs the towel out of Amy’s hand and the extinguished cigar butt. ELAINE I’m not so sure. I seem to have another theory. AMY What are you talking about? ELAINE Just follow me. Elaine climbs the stair case with Amy one step behind. She pauses outside of Sarah’s bedroom door. Elaine hands Amy the towel and the cigar butt. AMY What are we doing up here? ELAINE Just follow my lead. Elaine cocks her leg and KICKS the door wide open. 30.
  • 32.
    INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM- MOMENTS LATER Elaine rushes to Sarah’s bedside where she is sleeping. ELAINE Wake up! Elaine pulls Sarah up and out of bed. SARAH What do you want? Elaine looks Sarah in the eyes, she then moves her gaze down to Sarah’s breast, Elaine cups them both and squeezes. SARAH (CONT’D) Owe! Stop. What is wrong with you?! Elaine cuts her eyes to Amy, grabs the cigar butt, and wafts it under Sarah’s nose. Sarah dry heaves instantly. Elaine swiftly takes the towel from Amy, she cradles it under Sarah’s face. Sarah vomits into it. Elaine gathers the corners of the towel and hands it back to Amy. Amy takes it. ELAINE Yeah, just as I suspected. She’s got a bun it that oven. AMY Is this true Sarah? Is that even possible? SARAH Yes. I suppose so. ELAINE Oh boy... or girl. Sarah looks down and holds her belly amazed. INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - NIGHT Sarah is sleeping soundly. Amy is restless. Amy lights a lantern and opens an old trunk. Amy pulls out a worn cowboy hat. She tries it on. She then takes out a pair of boots. She lifts her foot to the sole to find they are a good fit. Amy takes out a worn leather jacket and then a gun belt and holster with two pistols. 31.
  • 33.
    She is, nowwearing the cowboy gear and goes over to a full length mirror. She mimics a manly stance and then draws the pistols with much skill and precision. Amy returns to the chest. At the bottom is a journal. She reads it cover to cover, experiencing a gamut of emotions. Inside the back cover she finds a photo of her father on a horse, a map, and a yellow feather. INT. BROTHEL - NIGHT Elaine is armed with a shot gun. She aims it down the stairs at the figure of a cowboy. ELAINE Excuse me cowboy, can I help you? Elaine tightens her finger against the trigger. ELAINE (CONT’D) If you’d like to keep your head. I suggest you answer me cowboy. The figure removes its hat. AMY (Whispering) Elaine, it’s me Amy! ELAINE What the hell are you doing dressed like that? I almost blew your head off! AMY Shhh, get down here before you wake the whole house. Elaine throws the gun over her shoulder and saunters down. She sizes up Amy and pours herself a shot. She slings it back. ELAINE I think I’m gonna need another. AMY Give me that. Amy confiscates the bottle. ELAINE Okay sugar, what’s goin’ on? 32.
  • 34.
    AMY It’s Sarah. Ithink about her and how she is stuck in this town, how she hasn’t had the chance to live, you know, really live. And now she is pregnant with a bastard child, alone, and heartbroken. What kind of a life is that? Elaine grabs the bottle and swigs off the top. ELAINE Yeah, sounds like a bum rap. But, the last I checked she seemed pretty happy about this baby and content on the fact that Will said he’d be back for her one day. Okay, problem solved. Now stand down cowboy and let’s go get some sleep. Amy twists her hair up and puts on the cowboy hat. AMY No. You don’t get it. Something more has got to be out there waiting for her. So I am going to go and find Will and tell him about this baby. I am going to fix this. ELAINE Now hold on just a minute. You never let those two spend any time together, so why do you care now? AMY I don’t know. I just do. ELAINE Okay? I’m not so sure you are talking about Sarah, honey. This wouldn’t have anything to do with Victor would it? I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. I know you are just friendly folk and all but there is no hiding from chemistry like that. Although I am not sure it’s worth dying over. Amy starts to leave. AMY Elaine, all I know is that I have to go. I can’t stay here any longer. (MORE) 33.
  • 35.
    I’d rather goout there and die than to be trapped here for one more day not living. ELAINE Oh, I see. Okay then. Amy heads towards the alley. Elaine grabs the shotgun and follows her out. EXT. BEHIND THE BROTHEL - NIGHT In the alley stands a old worn down horse. Amy mounts the horse it makes an odd NOISE in response. ELAINE So, what is your plan? AMY Well, me and Molly here... Amy PATS the side of the horse. ELAINE Don’t do that. You might break her hip. AMY We plan on heading due west, picking up the range and following the river north towards Montana. I should make pretty good time... ELAINE Not on that crow bait... AMY ... and I could catch up with Victor and his boys. I’m thinking, oh maybe within a week’s time. ELAINE You’re gonna die. You know that don’t you? Elaine slides the shotgun into Amy’s bed roll, then starts to pull Amy down. AMY Stop. Let me go! I can do this! AMY (CONT'D) 34.
  • 36.
    ELAINE Not on thatgeriatric nag you can’t. Now get down. Amy dismounts. Elaine starts to mount Molly somewhat unsuccessfully. AMY What are you doing? ELAINE Just help me. Amy pushes Elaine’s behind with both hands. Elaine adjusts herself and grabs the reins. ELAINE (CONT’D) Wait here, I’ll be back shortly. It takes Elaine some effort to get Molly going. They ride off, slowly, down the dark alley. INT. BEDROOM UNKNOWN FARM HOUSE - NIGHT FREDDIE, a man who is almost bald, sleeps next to a burly woman. Elaine slowly crawls into the room, to Freddie’s bedside. ELAINE Psssst. Elaine shakes Freddie. ELAINE (CONT’D) Psssst. Freddie. FREDDIE Not now Margaret. ELAINE Freddie it’s me Elaine. Freddie sits up with a smile. FREDDIE What are you doing here? If my wife sees you she’s gonna kill me. ELAINE I need you. Now. Meet me at the barn. 35.
  • 37.
    Elaine crawls away.Freddie slicks down a couple of lone, stray hairs. INT. BARN - NIGHT Elaine has Molly tied up inside. She is brushing the mane of a gorgeous white stallion. Freddie, behind Elaine, throws his arms around her. FREDDIE Oh Elaine, I was hoping you’d come to me. ELAINE Freddie, a woman with my animal like desires cannot resist a man of your prowess. Elaine turns towards Freddie and starts to brush his hairs. ELAINE (CONT’D) I want you, I want you real bad. Freddie starts to remove his britches. Elaine stops him. ELAINE (CONT’D) Just not right now. FREDDIE But why not? We are so good at it. ELAINE Yes we are darling but it will just have to wait. I need a favor. FREDDIE Anything for you Elaine. EXT. BEHIND THE BROTHEL - NIGHT Amy is pacing. She hears GALLOPING hooves approaching. Elaine rides up on a white stallion loaded with gear. Elaine, dwarfed by the stallion, stops in front of Amy and slides down off the side of the horse. AMY Where is Molly? ELAINE This is your horse now. Get on! 36.
  • 38.
    AMY What? But how? Amymounts the horse, sizing up the beautiful animal. Elaine hands Amy the reins. ELAINE Honey, how many times have I told you, be good at what you do, well let’s just say I take those words to heart. Amy looks like a cowboy mounted on the stallion. Elaine takes notice of Amy’s beautiful face and her girly hands. Elaine pulls a pair of gloves and a bandana out of the horse’s satchel. ELAINE (CONT’D) Here, put these on. Amy does as told. ELAINE (CONT’D) Wait something is missing. Elaine rolls off one of her stockings and rolls it into a ball. She hands it to Amy. ELAINE (CONT’D) Here, shove this into the front of your pants. Lord knows you have some big balls right now, but let’s create the visual effect to go with em. Amy complies. AMY Elaine, I just want you to know... Elaine hears a NOISE in the distance. ELAINE Someone is coming... Elaine SMACKS the horse’s rear end. ELAINE (CONT’D) Hey ya! The horse takes off like a rocket. Amy’s hat falls over her eyes. 37.
  • 39.
    AMY’S POV: Itis black. Amy is deafened by the sound of her BREATHING and the rhythmic DRUMMING of the horse’s hooves. She gains control of the reins and lifts the brim of her hat. She looks at the sunrise on the broad horizon. EXT. GREAT PLAINS - MORNING Victor rides alongside the wagon. Ben is at the reins. Will is asleep next to him. Victor spots something. VICTOR Hold on. You stay here. I’m gonna go scout it out. Ben stops the wagon and sits back. Victor gets closer. It’s the carnage of Lanny’s dead posse. He dismounts and assesses the scene. There are several shell casings and one set of hoof tracts headed west. Ben approaches in the wagon. VICTOR (CONT’D) It looks like this gang of cowboys must have had some sort of altercation. Ben stops the wagon. VICTOR (CONT’D) It seems the culprit took off by horseback, headed west. There were two survivors, who headed in the same direction, together, on foot. Victor kicks one of the dead cowboys over revealing his face. Ben takes notice. He jumps down and joins his father. Ben covers his nose and looks at the dead man with disdain. VICTOR (CONT’D) Son, do you know this man? BEN No, I’ve never seen him before in my life. Now let’s get out of here. VICTOR Sure, right after we bury these here boys. Fetch us a couple of shovels. 38.
  • 40.
    BEN I’m not buryingany of these assholes. If they were dumb enough to die out here, then let the vultures have at em. VICTOR We are gonna give these boys a proper burial. Now get the shovels. Ben heads to the back of the wagon and grabs two shovels. He throws one to Victor and swings the other hitting Will. BEN Wake up! WILL What is going on? BEN Our father wants to bury some deadbeats. So it’s your time to man up and stop being so useless. WILL What are you taking about? BEN Oh, I don’t know. Why don’t you dig a few graves... Ben jumps in the carriage. BEN (CONT’D) While I sit up here and draw a picture of it. Ben grabs Will’s sketch pad and pencil. BEN (CONT’D) Go ahead, start diggin, this is gonna be my masterpiece. Will jumps down. Grabs the shovel. And joins his father digging. LATER: They have buried all the men and are drinking some water. Ben, still sitting in the carriage has in fact been drawing. He has sketched a picture of Zane, Lanny, and Riley. He tears the paper from the pad and puts it in his pocket. 39.
  • 41.
    EXT. GREAT PLAINS- DAY Amy is riding along, taking in the scenery. She spots a small pond and stops to water her horse. Amy is wading in the water when she spots an approaching rider. She quickly exits and dons her hat and bandana. The approaching rider picks up speed. One of his arms is in a sling. MILES Howdy. AMY (Deep voice) Howdy. MILES It’s a pretty day out here. AMY Yep. MILES You travelin alone? AMY Yep. I don’t do well amongst people. MILES I don’t mean you any harm. I am a sheriff in a nearby town, over yonder. I am out hear trying to spread the word about some outlaws. Miles hands Amy a wanted poster with, Lanny, Riley, and Zane’s faces. Amy adjusts her “man parts” and takes it. MILES (CONT’D) Have you seen any of these men? AMY No, ain’t see em. MILES Well, if you do run across them, be careful, they are real dangerous men. They murdered a woman and her boy in cold blood and took my nieces for all they have. And did a number on my arm here. 40.
  • 42.
    Miles looks atAmy’s horse. MILES (CONT’D) That is some stallion you have there. Do you mind if I take a look at him? AMY I don’t think that is a good idea. He don’t take to strangers. MILES Okay, right. Thanks for your time. Miles rides off. EXT. RIVER’S EDGE - AFTERNOON Lanny and Riley look haggard. Lanny hobbles into the water to drink it. Riley sits down on the bank and removes his boots. It has been a rough journey by foot and it shows in his feet. Once quenched, Lanny lays back and floats. LANNY Get in. The water’s nice. RILEY Yyyyoouu.. You know I I can’t swim. LANNY (Laughing) Yeah, I know. RILEY (Outburst) Shit! Fuck! LANNY It sure feels good though. Answer me one thing. How the hell do you plan on crossing this here river? Suddenly they hear a CRACKING branch just in the distance. They take cover. Riley has left his bible and boots behind. A wagon approaches. They can’t quite see who it is. Riley’s face begins to twitch wildly. RILEY (Outburst) Fuck! Titty! Fuckers! 41.
  • 43.
    Ben charges thereads like a wild animal. He drags Riley out and gets off several punches before Lanny and Victor separate the entangled men. VICTOR Whoa, son calm down. LANNY Ben, its okay. It’s me Lanny. Man are you a sight for sore eyes. Ben charges Lanny. BEN You son of a bitch! You killed my mother you asshole! Ben wails on Lanny. Riley tries to help. Ben tackles Riley into the water. Ben submerges Riley’s face. BEN (CONT’D) And you, you sick bastard! He was just a boy and you killed him! It takes Victor, Lanny, and Will to get Ben off of Riley. Riley lays floating in the water. The current begins to carry him away. Lanny tries but is too injured to help. LANNY Help him. Please! He can’t swim! He ain’t killed nobody, Please. It was Zane. He killed them. I can help you find him. Victor springs into action saving Riley from the rapids. Victor pulls Riley to shore and beats his chest until he GASPS for air. VICTOR I am not burying another body today. We are going to escort these two men into the next town. We are going to turn what’s left of them over to the law, and we are going to let them handle this from here on out. Do you understand? SILENCE. VICTOR (CONT’D) Ben, do you understand? 42.
  • 44.
    BEN (Reluctantly) Yes. VICTOR Yes what? BEN Yes, sir. EXT.JUST OUTSIDE OF WESTERN TOWN #2 - DAY Victor is leading his boys towards town. Lanny and Riley’s wrists are bound and fastened to the back of the Wagon. Their feet are bare. Will keeps alternating the pace of the horses. LANNY Come on! This still can’t be entertaining to you fellas. Ben and Will LAUGH. One of the horses shits. BEN Do it again. Will turns the carriage slightly leading Riley to step in the shit pile. It SQUISHES. RILEY AWWWWW, SSSHHHHIT! Again the boys LAUGH. EXT. CENTER OF BUSTLING WESTERN TOWN #2 - DAY The Lawson boys take in the busy pace of the town. Victor leads the group to the sheriff’s office. INT. COUNTY JAIL TOWN #2 - MOMENTS LATER Victor enters the jailhouse. Ben pulls Lanny and Riley in with a swift tug on their ropes. The local sheriff, PLEASANT MCLEOD, stands to greet them. PLEASANT Good day. VICTOR Good day. I’m Victor Lawson and these here are my two sons Ben and Will. 43.
  • 45.
    PLEASANT Nice to meetyou. My name is, Pleasant Mcleod, I’m the law around here. What can I do you for? VICTOR We are here to deliver these two wanted outlaws. BEN Murdering outlaws! The sheriff looks Lanny and Riley over. PLEASANT Awe, yeah. The sheriff points towards a wanted poster of Lanny, Riley and Zane. PLEASANT (CONT’D) We got word that they killed a mother and her young son in broad day light. VICTOR It was my wife and my son. PLEASANT I’m sorry. And you had enough restraint to bring them in alive. Well, you are a much better man than I am. The sheriff takes the ropes from Ben. He unties the men and locks them up in a jail cell. PLEASANT (CONT’D) They have already been sentenced to hang, you know. So, I guess we will have us a hanging here to look forward to tomorrow. Any news on the third man? LANNY You mean the real murderer! PLEASANT I suggest you shut your trap if you know what’s good for you. It sounds to me that you should have minded the company you kept a little better. 44.
  • 46.
    Pleasant looks atRiley who has his head buried in his bible. PLEASANT (CONT’D) And as for you, if you spent your time practicing the words of that book instead of reading them, you wouldn’t even be in this mess. VICTOR It seems the third man took off. PLEASANT A shame, we’ll just have to find him and hang him another day. Until then, do you all have a place to stay? VICTOR No, this was a detour for us. Pleasant puts his hand on Victor’s shoulder to lead him out. PLEASANT Well, I can help you with that too. Pleasant CLOSES the door leaving Riley and Lanny there alone. LANNY I know we’ve been in some binds before and I don’t mean to be a real croaker but I think we’ve gotten ourselves into a heap of trouble this time and we are gonna pay through the nose with our lives. Riley’s face begins to twitch wildly. LANNY (CONT’D) What does that there book say about redemption? RILEY I ddddon’t knnnow. LANNY What do you mean you don’t know? You keep you damn head buried in that thing. Now what does it say? RILEY I dddon’t knnnow. 45.
  • 47.
    LANNY Fine, just readme something! Anything. RILEY Nnnno. I cccan’t...I mean..I I I..can’t read. I ain’t nnnever learned how. Lanny is surprised. He takes the bible out of Riley’s shaky hands. He sits down and opens the book. LANNY In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth. The Earth was without form and voice, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Riley stills. LANNY (CONT’D) And God said, “Let there be light” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. MONTAGE: We see Lanny continue to read. He turns page after page. Gallows are being erected just outside their jail cell. Night falls. Lanny continues to read to Riley by the light of the moon. EXT. GREAT PLAINS - NIGHT Amy is asleep under the stars. Her horse is tied to a lone tree. Amy is having a nightmare. She thrashes, then wakes abruptly with a GASP. AMY’S POV: She is staring into the eyes of a coiled up rattle snake. The snake strikes. Amy reacts. 46.
  • 48.
    The snake misses.Amy rolls to her feet and pulls her pistol. She fires one SHOT. Hitting the snake dead on. A shiver runs up her spine. She reacts again. This time UNLOADING her weapon at the dead snake. Her last SHOT RICOCHETS off a nearby rock. The stray bullet nips a buffalo just off in the darkness. The wounded buffalo lets out a primal MOAN. Amy starts to make out the shape of the buffalo. Several other buffalo respond to the call with GRUNTS, SNORTS, and MOANS. The herd begins to shift starting a STAMPEDE. Amy attempts to run to the nearby tree. She is being knocked over and bumped with her every advance. The ground SHAKES and RUMBLES. Her horse NEIGHS in distress. Amy finally makes it to the tree. She tries to untie the horse but is unsuccessful. She climbs into the tree. The limb SNAPS, she falls, and her horse, now free, gets caught up in the momentum of the heard. He’s gone. The herd dissipates. Amy is injured and remains curled up. EXT. GREAT PLAINS - MORNING Amy slowly opens her eyes. She struggles to her feet. She makes her way over to her campsite. She spots her hat, dusts it off, and puts it on. She sees her pistol. She lifts it. It’s bent. She spots her second pistol. It too has been bent. AMY No. INT. JAIL HOUSE TOWN #2 - MORNING Lanny continues to read. Riley hangs on his every word. LANNY (Raspy) The angel said to me, “these words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place. HAMMERING is coming from outside. Lanny pauses, then peers between the bars of the window. RILEY What, wwwhat is it? 47.
  • 49.
    LANNY Nothing... Where wasI, oh yes, Jesus is coming. “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book. Pleasant enters with a group of men. PLEASANT Here they are gentlemen. Pleasant UNLOCKS the cell door. Lanny DROPS the bible. The men engulf Lanny and Riley. They drag them out. EXT. MAIN STREET TOWN #2 - MOMENTS LATER Lanny and Riley are lead forcefully to the gallows. A noose is wrapped around each of their necks. A large crowd forms. Lanny spots the Lawson family. RILEY Thhhank you Lanny, for sssaving me. LANNY You saved me friend. I’ll see you on the other side. A man kicks Riley forward. He hangs. Lanny spots Zane in the crowd. Lanny signals Ben with a WHISTLE. LANNY (CONT’D) It’s Zane! Behind you! Lanny spits at the hangman, jumps forward, and hangs himself. Ben turns to see Zane just behind him. Ben draws his gun and starts to take off. Victor grabs him firmly by the arm. VICTOR Son, don’t do this. BEN I have to. This is what I came here to do! VICTOR There is a better way. Ben rips his arm free. 48.
  • 50.
    BEN Don’t wait aroundfor me. Ben mounts a horse. He sees Zane moving through the crowd. Zane mounts a horse and the chase is on! Ben closes in and FIRES. Zane FIRES back. They align alongside a moving train. The locomotive CHUGS full speed ahead towards a tunnel. Zane reaches for and grabs the train. Ben shoots Zane’s horse. Zane’s horse rolls out from under him. Ben’s horse jumps the fallen horse. Ben grabs Zane’s leg, he tries to pull him down while gauging the timing of the enclosing mountain face. Ben is running out of time. Ben let’s go. Zane slips into the train car. The mountain swallows him. Ben stops on point at the rock face. EXT. GREAT PLAINS - DAY Amy looks small against the vast landscape. She is headed west on foot. She is unkempt, confused, and dehydrated. We can sense time is passing as the scenery and sunlight change. Amy’s gait begins to change. Eventually she trips over the grave of one of the dead posse members. AMY’S POV: She sees the rotting carcass of a dead horse. AMY Oh no, Molly? Amy hears Elaine’s boisterous LAUGH. AMY (CONT’D) Elaine? Where are you? Amy retches. AMY (CONT’D) What’s that smell? AMY’S POV: Amy sees a very pregnant Sarah. AMY (CONT’D) Sarah, what are you doing here? You need to go home. Amy passes out. 49.
  • 51.
    EXT. MAIN STREETTOWN #2 - AFTERNOON Victor and Will are loaded up on the carriage. Victor checks his pocket watch. WILL Can we just wait a little longer? I know he will be back. VICTOR I don’t believe he will. But we can give him one more hour. Then we are heading on with or without him. WILL Thank you. EXT. GREAT PLAINS - AFTERNOON Amy is being nudged awake by her horse. She opens her eyes. AMY (Raspy) Oh, thank God! Amy pulls a canteen down from the saddle. There is little water to be had. She drinks it. She rubs the horse’s snout. AMY (CONT’D) Thank you. You are a savior. That is what I will call you, Savior. Amy manages to mount SAVIOR. She passes out again. EXT. RIVER’S EDGE - SUNSET Savior wades into the water. He bucks Amy off. She wakes up with the SPLASH. She LAUGHS, then CRIES, she smiles peacefully and floats back into the water. EXT. RIVER’S EDGE - NIGHT Amy is clean and asleep next to a campfire. Outwardly she appears as a man with her hat tipped down low. She has bound Savior to a rope and has the other end tied around her wrist. UNKNOWN POV: Amy is being watched. We see three Crow Indians emerge from the brush. 50.
  • 52.
    BLACK HEART, isa tall male Indian, in his late teens, with an athletic build. He has long dark hair, which is in two side braids, with a front pompadour. His face is covered in white war paint with black stripes. His eyes are crystal blue. He looks menacing and is armed with a tomahawk. The two other Indians are merely boys. They follow Black Heart’s lead as he descends on the campsite. Black Heart’s shadow engulfs Amy. He lifts his tomahawk. He swings the sharp blade down but stops short of severing the halter rope when Amy lifts her wrist to her forehead, knocking her hat off. Her hair spills out across his feet. Black Heart stares at her. His companions gesture him to finish the job. Black Heart steps back allowing the light of the campfire to illuminate Amy. Black Heart gestures to the “Great Spirt” and then retreats, calling them off. EXT. LAWSON CAMPSITE - NIGHT Victor and Will have moved on without Ben. EXT. AMY’S CAMPSITE RIVER’S EDGE - NIGHT Amy is awakened by Indian war WHOOPS and GUNFIRE, just off in the distance. She unties Savior and pulls out her shotgun. The two young Crow Indians emerge on horseback. A semiconscious Black Heart is draped over one of their horses. Amy aims to shoot. Crow Indian boy #1 holds his hands up. Crow Indian boy #2 DROPS Black Heart at her feet. She GASPS. Black Heart is covered in blood and he has an arrow impaled in his side. Crow Indian boy #1 puts his hands down slowly. He then gestures to the Great Spirit, to Black Heart, then to Amy. AMY You’re not gonna leave him here. Indian boy #2 offers Amy a bow with a beautiful carved horse on it. She takes it reluctantly. The Indian boys ride off. AMY (CONT’D) Where are you going? Come back! Amy hears more Indian war WHOOPS, now close. Amy looks at Black Heart. He reaches his hand up towards her. AMY (CONT’D) Shit. 51.
  • 53.
    Amy tucks thebow into her saddle bag. She drags Black Heart to the river. She leads Savior down to the river. She floats Black Heart onto Saviors back. She holds her shotgun over head as they tread across stream. Amy and Savior work hard against the current. Something bumps into Amy. It’s the dead body of Crow Indian boy #1. Amy pushes the body out of the way and continues on. They make it to the other side. Amy takes cover. Savior make his way to a nearby ridge and is pacing with Black Heart still draped over him. AMY’S POV: Across the river Amy sees Crow Indian boy #2 stumble up to her campsite. He is being shot at with several arrows. He’s hit. He goes down. Several Sioux Indian warriors emerge over the fallen boy. One Sioux male WHOOPS and scalps him. Amy sets up aim on him with her shotgun. She waits. The Sioux retreat. Two Sioux Indians, breathing out of hallow reeds, make their way down river, out of site from Amy. Sioux Indian #1 emerges from the water armed with a Bowie knife. He has his sights set on Black Heart and Savior on the ridge. Amy spots him. Sioux Indian #1 launches off a boulder, just over top of Amy. She lays back and SHOOTS him dead. Sioux Indian #2 springs from the water and charges Amy. She SHOOTS him dead. The group of Sioux Indian Warriors head back towards the campsite. Amy, now out of ammo, runs up the ridge, and mounts Savior. We see Amy ride Savior, with Black Heart draped over him high into the cover of the Rocky Mountains. EXT. SOUTH WESTERN MONTANA - DAY Victor and Will sit together in the carriage. Riding along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Victor is at the reins and offers Will a piece of jerky. VICTOR You haven’t said a word in hours. Look around you son. This place is grand. I would think you of all people would enjoy a picturesque view like this. WILL Yeah, it’s nice. 52.
  • 54.
    VICTOR This is aboutmissing Sarah, isn’t it? You’re merely between hay and grass son. You have plenty of time. Who knows you might meet someone new who strikes your fancy. WILL I don’t want to meet someone new. I have met plenty of girls and she is the one, the only one who does that thing to me. You wouldn’t understand. VICTOR I understand more than you know. You and I were cut from the same cloth. My heart seems to have knowledge of things my head just can’t understand. WILL Yeah, it’s not what I’m thinking about though. It’s Ben and his choices. I just flat out don’t understand em. I mean why wouldn’t you want to preserve the only family you have left? Instead, he is out there risking his life seeking vengeance for two people who are gone. VICTOR Yeah. He is. WILL You know, when they hung those two men. I didn’t feel the innocence of Scout or the grace of Mother in that. Honestly, I just felt kind of sorry for them. I tried to enjoy it, like Ben, but frankly I hated it. I hated everything about it. VICTOR When heaven was dealing out hearts boy, they dealt you a big one. You were made to focus on the beauty in this world. It is a gift, it is who you are. But unfortunately it doesn’t come that easy for a lot of us. 53.
  • 55.
    WILL Yeah, I guess. VICTOR Therewas a time I wasn’t much different from your brother but I’ve changed. You know, there is a fine line that exists between love and hate. It’s easy to teeter on that razor’s edge and just the right amount of force can push you over, either way. But here’s the thing, it’s simple. We always have a choice. WILL A choice? VICTOR Yes. You can either choose to come from a place of love or a place of fear. WILL Fear? Fear of what? VICTOR Change. WILL Change? VICTOR Yeah, change! It makes folks nervous. Change can happen slowly or quick like a strike of lightning but it is always gonna happen. WILL So? VICTOR So, when people fear change they try to control it but they can’t. It can make even a good man act crazy. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. But now, I just try to rise above it. I have found that everything looks very different when you’ve got a bird’s eye view. Will relaxes. Looks at the scenery. A bald eagle flies over. 54.
  • 56.
    EXT. ROCKY MOUNTAINS- MORNING Amy is weary. The rays of the sun are dispersed from the canopy of aspens. She rides into a clearing surrounded by a small mountain lake. It’s majestic. AMY Wow. Amy navigates Savior under a natural rock enclosure. She pulls down her bedroll and curls up on the ground. Injured Black Heart remains draped over Savior. EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - DAY Victor and Will approach. The ranch is thriving. It is full of cattle, horses, and ranch hands. The land has a view of the snowcapped Rockies and the river, a barn, bunk house, and a huge cabin. INT. KITCHEN LAWSON CABIN - DAY The curtains are blowing in with the breeze. BONNIE LAWSON, a voluptuous and kind woman, looks out the window. She sees Victor and Will approaching. EXT. FRONT PORCH LAWSON CABIN - MOMENTS LATER Bonnie runs out the front door, wipes her hands on her apron. BONNIE Come Robert, they’re here! INT. LAWSON MONTANA BARN - DAY ROBERT LAWSON is helping one of his ranch hands birth a foal. He is a born leader with a strong build and an even stronger presence. He washes his hands in a pale and exits. EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - MOMENTS LATER Robert joins Bonnie. They watch the approaching wagon arrive. Victor smiles, stops the carriage, jumps down, and gives Robert a big hug. Robert looks Victor over. ROBERT My God, baby brother it’s good to see you! 55.
  • 57.
    VICTOR It’s been toolong! You look good. Robert pulls Bonnie in. ROBERT It’s all because of Bonnie here. She takes real good care of me. Bonnie gives Victor a long embrace. BONNIE Oh honey, it’s great to see you and I’m so sorry. I’ve sent many a prayer up for you. VICTOR Thank you Bonnie. Bonnie looks up at Will still sitting in the carriage. She gestures him down. He jumps down and joins them. Robert shakes Will’s hand. ROBERT I’m your uncle Robert. WILL Hi, nice to meet you. I’m... ROBERT ...Don’t tell me. You must be William. WILL Will. Robert looks down at their hands. ROBERT Yes, well that girly handshake and this baby fine skin gave it away. You must be the artist. Will pulls his hand back defensively. ROBERT (CONT’D) Well, that’s gonna change. There’s not gonna be much time for art around here. Bonnie pushes Robert back playfully and hugs Will. 56.
  • 58.
    BONNIE He’s just pullinyour leg baby, it’s so good to finally meet you. WILL Yes, you too. ROBERT I can’t get over those damn powder puffs. I suggest you don’t shake hands with any of the round-up gang either. WILL The round up gang? ROBERT Yeah, that’s what I call all my ranch hands. And if they feel that soft velvety skin, they will eat you alive. Bonnie grabs Will’s hand and escorts him away. BONNIE Don’t listen to him. Come let me introduce you to your family. ROBERT Where is Benjamin? I could sure use a bronc buster like him around here. VICTOR He will be along in his own time. Robert and Victor follow Bonnie and Will towards the cabin. ROBERT He can pull his weight around here, can’t he? VICTOR I don’t know. He has never really had to with Ben around. You know how big brothers can be. They’re an overbearing bread. ROBERT Right! Well, if he can’t I could sure use a nice picture for over the fireplace. They LAUGH. 57.
  • 59.
    INT. LIVING ROOMLAWSON CABIN - MOMENTS LATER The room is grand and cozy. By the window lay two elderly women in a large wooden bed. FRANCES is in her sixties. She’s frail yet feisty. GAMMY MAC is in her eighties and hard of hearing. She uses an ear trumpet to aid her. Will and Bonnie enter. FRANCES Where have you been? We are burning up in here. GAMMY MAC Huh? What did you say? Frances lifts Gammy’s ear trumpet to her mouth. FRANCES I was saying it is hot in here! GAMMY MAC Oh, yes it feels good. BONNIE I’ll open a window. GAMMY MAC Who is this dear? BONNIE (Loud) Gammy, this is Will my nephew. Remember, I told you he was coming to live with us. GAMMY MAC Oh, yes dear. She is always singing your praises. BONNIE Will, this is my mother Frances and my grandmother Gammy Mac. GAMMY MAC What? FRANCES (Yelling) It’s Will, her nephew. 58.
  • 60.
    GAMMY MAC Yes. Iknow. Will, my ears may fail me but my eyes sure don’t. You are quite a fine looking young fellow. WILL Thank you. GAMMY MAC You must have a lady friend? WILL Yes ma’am I do. Her name is Sarah. I hope to bring her here one day. I mean if that is okay with you all. BONNIE Sweetie, the one thing you need to know about me is that I love, love. God never blessed me with any children of my own, but I think that’s why he keeps sending me so many of his to love. FRANCES Ain’t that the truth? BONNIE I look forward to meeting her someday. GAMMY MAC Huh? FRANCES Her name is Sarah! Robert and Victor enter. ROBERT I see you have met the queen bees. You all remember my brother Victor. FRANCES Yes. GAMMY MAC Huh? FRANCES It’s Victor! 59.
  • 61.
    ROBERT (Under his breath) Canyou believe they are both still alive? I swear the way Bonnie cares for them they’re never gonna die. Bonnie picks up a tray of food to serve the women. FRANCES It’s about time. INT. KITCHEN LAWSON CABIN - MOMENTS LATER Robert, Victor, and Will enter. The room is made to feed many. There is a Hispanic woman cooking, MARIA. She is pregnant. A Hispanic man sits at the table eating. He stands when the men enter. ROBERT This here is Miguel, his wife Maria, and where is... A young Hispanic boy runs in. Robert scoops him up. ROBERT (CONT’D) There you are! This is Carlos. He’s a chip off the old block, eh Miguel? CARLOS Hola. ROBERT Miguel here, he is a man you can tie to, and I don’t know what we would do without Maria. Man can she cook! They all greet one another. EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - DAY Robert WHISTLES in the round-up gang. They all line up. ROBERT Nice work out there today boys. I called you all over to introduce you to your new big bug and ranch hand. This is my brother Victor and his son Will. I expect that you will treat them as an extension of myself. (MORE) 60.
  • 62.
    And if Ihear otherwise, you will have to answer to me. Does everyone understand? ROUND-UP GANG Yes, sir. Robert walks down the line, looking each one in the eye. ROBERT This here is, what I like to call the round-up gang. The finest cowboys in all of Montana. This here is Harland. Victor gives him a nice hardy handshake. Will takes notice. HARLAND goes to shake Will’s hand. Will hesitates. Robert shakes his head to Harland. ROBERT (CONT’D) He’s not much for handshakes. This is Bennett, Jasper, Asa, Henry and his brother Harvey, Paul, Ned, Chad, Matthew, Jamie, and Bobby. VICTOR Well, I have got to say. You have a good thing going here. I look forward to getting to know you all better. ROUND-UP GANG Yes, sir. ROBERT Dismissed. The round-up gang return to their chores. VICTOR When you sent word that you needed help. I pictured things, well, different. ROBERT I have lost some good men to the mines and to the railroad. Others just couldn’t cut it and I had to let them go. You know, I don’t have much tolerance for dead weight. VICTOR Yeah. I know. ROBERT (CONT'D) 61.
  • 63.
    ROBERT However, my realproblem is that the ranch is teeming with more horses than we can handle. In account, we don’t have enough men who can break them. They are just running wild. VICTOR That’s not the worst problem to have. I believe we can help you with that. RILEY Good. Will, go on and accompany Chad and Matthew here to the corral. They can start showing you how we go about domesticating these wild horses. MATTHEW Sure thing boss. CHAD It can be fun once you get the hang of it. WILL Oh? Will, Chad, and Matthew head to the corral where there is a bucking bronco. MATTHEW Will, do you want to take this one? WILL No, you go ahead. I’ll watch you and take the next one. Victor and Robert sit down on the front porch and watch on. Bonnie brings the some refreshments. ROBERT Join us. BONNIE No. You two catch up. We’ll have plenty of time later. Bonnie kisses Robert. She leaves. 62.
  • 64.
    ROBERT I’ve been realworried about you Vic. When I try and put myself in your shoes and think about what I’d do if something happened to Bonnie. I can’t. My mind won’t even consider it. VICTOR Elizabeth and I weren’t like you two. We married for all the wrong reasons. I loved her, yes, but whatever connection we had was lost long ago. ROBERT Do you miss her? VICTOR Yes, I miss her... in my own way. I have a lot of faith now. That has changed since you knew me and it comforts me to know that they took that heavenly journey together. I believe they are okay, actually better than okay. ROBERT That’s good Vic. That’s real real good. EXT. ROCKY MOUNTAINS - EVENING Black Heart MOANS. Amy is awakened. Amy approaches him cautiously. When close she grabs her canteen and CHUGS the rest of the water. Amy refills her canteen at the lake. She takes Savior by the reins and leads him under the rock shelter. Amy takes a deep breath and slides Black Heart down. He wakes and GROANS. She props him up. He stares into her eyes. She assesses his wounds. He has a gash on his head that is bleeding slightly and an arrow impaled in his side. Amy goes to her saddle bag. She takes the bow and lays it by Black Heart. He removes his eyes from her briefly to look at it. She returns to the bag for some supplies. AMY One of the Indian boys you were with, he left that bow with me. Is it yours? 63.
  • 65.
    Amy begins toclean his wounds. AMY (CONT’D) Can you understand me? I guess not huh? Well it shouldn’t upset you too much for me to tell you that those boys were killed by the Indians you all were fighting. Amy looks to Black Heart. He continues to stare at her. AMY (CONT’D) Well, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. Amy begins to wash his scalp wound. AMY (CONT’D) It’s not too bad. She cleans his face removing all the dried blood and war paint. His features are chiseled and his lips full. AMY (CONT’D) Are you thirsty? She gives him a sip from the canteen. She moves on to cleaning his chest. Her motions become slower, more fluid, and sensual. She is focusing on his strong, hard build. She catches herself and gets flustered. AMY (CONT’D) Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve just never been intimate with a man before. I mean, I have kissed a man once, actually he kissed me. Then he left town. I’m hoping to see him again. I’ve had a lot of offers too. I run a saloon so I see a lot of men. Scum bags really. God, I’m so glad you can’t understand me. Well, you are just about fixed up. Amy stands and looks down at the arrow. He follows her stare. AMY (CONT’D) It looks like it is not in far enough to push it through, so we’ll have to pull it out. Amy removes her boots, places a foot on his chest, and wraps her hands around the shaft of the arrow. 64.
  • 66.
    AMY (CONT’D) Okay, onthree. One, two, I can do this, three. Amy pulls. Black Heart STIFLES a SCREAM. She gives the arrow a twist. It POPS out. The wound spews blood. Amy puts her bandana over it. AMY (CONT’D) Here, put pressure on it. Amy stands and turns her back to Black Heart. AMY (CONT’D) (Under her breath) Damn it Elaine. Amy reaches into the front of her pants and pulls out the stocking she has been using for her “man parts.” She wraps the stocking around his torso to hold the bandana in place. AMY (CONT’D) Okay there. Another great use for that thing. INT. KITCHEN LAWSON CABIN - NIGHT Several of the round-up gang, the Vasquez family, and the Lawson family gather for dinner. The table is abundant. They are giving thanks. ROBERT Oh mighty God, we thank you for your grace, for watching over Victor and Will during their travels, all these fine people, and your bounty. Amen. GROUP Amen. ROBERT Now let’s dig in. The group serve themselves. ROBERT (CONT’D) So Will, how did it go out there today? 65.
  • 67.
    WILL I think Mattand Chad did a bang-up job. As for me, I just got real banged up. The group LAUGHS. MATTHEW You’re all right by me Will. CHAD Yeah, as fine as cream and gravy. ROBERT Now, Will the way I see it. It’s your time to go through the mill and your opportunity, your golden opportunity, to step out of Ben’s shadow for once and for all and to become the man you are gonna be. WILL I’m just not like my brother. ROBERT Are any of us? I thank God I’m not like this son of bitch all the time. VICTOR Thanks Robby. ROBERT No but seriously. We get it. You’ve got a sensitive side. But use that boy. That is your well. Tap into it! Find the beauty in these wild horses and your ability to connect with them. You’re still a man. I think you will be amazed at what you can do. Okay?! WILL Yes, sir. ROBERT Okay?! Let me hear you! GROUP Yes sir! LAUGHTER. 66.
  • 68.
    BONNIE You know Victor,the word has already gotten around that Robert’s available brother was coming into town. ROBERT Bonnie... BONNIE What? It’s true. I had at least three inquirers just last week. ROBERT I told her not to... VICTOR ... It’s okay. I know Bonnie’s the eternal matchmaker. MATTHEW She still hasn’t set me up yet. ROBERT I wonder why? BONNIE So Victor? VICTOR Thank you. But I plan on letting my heart make those decisions on my behalf from now on. BONNIE Fine. Suit yourself. EXT. ROCKY MOUNTAINS - NIGHT Black Heart is comfortable. Amy cooks two fish over a campfire. She puts each of them on a plate and slides one to Black Heart. AMY Dinner’s served. Black Heart inspects the fish. Amy takes her plate and eats away from the camp, by Savior. She hand feeds the horse. Black Heart watches her. Amy returns for her bedding. She noticed Black Heart has not eaten. 67.
  • 69.
    AMY (CONT’D) What? Youdon’t like fish? She tosses him a blanket. AMY (CONT’D) Here. Good night. Amy sleeps under the stars by Savior. EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - NIGHT Ben is alone. He’s grown a beard and is stoking a campfire. He sits back, reaches into his pocket and retrieves the sketch he drew. He tears out the image of Zane and burns the rest in the fire. It STOKES. EXT. FOOT HILLS OF THE ROCKIES - NIGHT Zane emerges from the woods by horseback. There is a modest log cabin just off in the distance. He makes his way towards it. The chimney is letting off smoke and the windows are faintly lit. INT. MCATEE LOG CABIN - NIGHT Inside is a young couple. MARIDAI and DOUGLAS MCATEE. Maridai is gentle and graceful. Douglas is jovial and is a fiery red head. The couple are making love by a fire. They finish. DOUGLAS Well, Miss Maridai McAtee, for such a delicate flower of a woman, you sure now how to please a man. MARIDAI You’re not just a man. You’re my man. And my husband now. DOUGLAS Say it again? MARIDAI What? DOUGLAS Husband. MARIDAI Husband. 68.
  • 70.
    They kiss. MARIDAI (CONT’D) Howmany children do you suppose we should have? DOUGLAS Well, if they’re like you, hundreds. If they are anything like their old man here, I think one is about all we could handle. Maridai GIGGLES. They hear a NOISE outside. DOUGLAS (CONT’D) It’s just the wind. I’m sure of it. I’ll go take a look. Douglas stands. He puts on his pants and his gun belt. MARIDAI Don’t go out there. I have a bad feeling. Douglas smiles and kisses her forehead. DOUGLAS I’ll be fine darling. Keep my spot warm for me. Douglas turns the handle of the front door. He opens it. Zane SHOOTS him dead. Maridai SCREAMS. Zane makes his way in, and kicks Douglas’s body outside. Zane stands over Maridai and tips his hat to her. ZANE You know little lady. I had a mind to just pass you all right on by. But when I peered in that there window and saw you with your man. Well, it made me a little jealous. Maridai begins to CRY. ZANE (CONT’D) Shhh, don’t do that. I’ll take my time. I don’t plan on leaving here anytime soon. 69.
  • 71.
    EXT. ROCKY MOUNTAINS- DAY Black Heart is pale, sweaty, and shaking. Amy covers him with a blanket and her bed roll. Time passes. He looks worse. Amy drags his semiconscious body closer to the fire. Amy gathers firewood. She stops and notices the aspens are turning yellow. She looks worried but returns to her task. Days turn into nights. Nights turn into days. Amy tends to Black Heart. Clouds move in. Amy is shivering. She reluctantly surrenders to the situation. She slides under the bedroll and wraps her arms around Black Heart. She stops shivering. EXT. ROCKY MOUNTAINS - MORNING Black Heart’s fever has broken. He is bathing in the nude. Amy wakes. She notices Black Heart is gone. She looks for him and sees him bathing. She pretends to be asleep and peeks with one eye to watch him. Black Heart finishes. He exits the lake. Gets dressed and walks toward Savior. He admires the horse and hand feeds him some grass. Amy gets up and makes her way over to them. Black Heart can’t take his eyes off her as she approaches. Amy smiles. BLACK HEART Iichiile Itche (ee-chee-lay eet- chay). AMY Eeechillay eetchayyy? Black Heart is amused. BLACK HEART Yes, in Crow language it means good horse. AMY You speak. You speak English? BLACK HEART The Great Spirit give animals, the ones without fires, supernatural powers. Man does not possess these powers. Man need animal to obtain powers. 70.
  • 72.
    AMY What? BLACK HEART The animalsare the great revelers. Through sacred dream, vision, or fasting experience, animals will come. AMY He saved me in the desert once. BLACK HEART Yes. He then prescribe the sacred secrets of the Great Spirit. You possess gift powers from this good horse. You possess horse medicine. The great power to heal. AMY I don’t know. BLACK HEART I seek not from you, I have seen, been shown, by the Great Spirit. I inform you. You possess great power. AMY Okay? Thank you. BLACK HEART Don’t thank me. Thank Iichiile. Amy is confused. BLACK HEART (CONT’D) Thank horse! Black Heart walks away. Amy looks to Savior. EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - DAY Robert takes Will over to a pen with a wild, wild horse. ROBERT Here she is boy. I swear she has been possessed by the Devil himself. WILL I don’t know about this. 71.
  • 73.
    ROBERT Have faith boy.Now come on. Robert jumps the fence and grabs a rope. ROBERT (CONT’D) Whoa now. Shhh. It’s okay. Robert mounts the horse. She throws him off. Robert stands. ROBERT (CONT’D) Come on in. She’s prime. Will climbs in. ROBERT (CONT’D) So what do you feel? WILL Scared. ROBERT Okay. That’s a start. Why? WILL Um, cause I think I might die or get maimed. ROBERT Okay. Now get past yourself. Look at this horse. What do you feel? WILL That she is scared. Too. ROBERT All right boy. Now we’re talking. It takes Will several attempts to mount her. He looks the horse in the eye every time he tries. The last time he catches his reflection in her eye. He mounts her. He tames her. Robert opens the gate wide and lets them ride free. ROBERT (CONT’D) Whooo hooo! That’s it! Go boy! The round-up gang take notice and CHEER Will on. EXT. ROCKY MOUNTAINS - EVENING Amy has prepared a fish dinner. Black Heart picks at it. 72.
  • 74.
    BLACK HEART What doI call you? AMY Umm, my name is Amy, Amy Vass, you can call me Amy. What is your name? BLACK HEART Dasse Shipite (daw-say shee-pee- tay) AMY Dasse Shipite? BLACK HEART Yes. It means Black Heart. AMY That is some name. How did you get that name? BLACK HEART Crow Indian boys, aspiring warriors, seek guidance from the Great Spirit. As a young man I went to the Sacred Mountains to seek. I went many days without water or food awaiting Baxbe. AMY Baxbe? BLACK HEART Sacred power from the Maker. AMY Oh. BLACK HEART Many days pass, pangs of hunger died, I lay down and waited. Then I had a clear vision from the Maker. AMY How did that give you your name? BLACK HEART When I returned home. Many could see that I had seen. I had admirers, women, who wanted to marry me. I denied them all. AMY I know what that’s like. 73.
  • 75.
    BLACK HEART One byone I had to explain. I would be unable to marry, it would go in the face of the Great Spirit. AMY Why? BLACK HEART Because of the vision showed to me. AMY Oh, go on. BLACK HEART I explain, some understand, some get angry and their fathers too. They say I won’t marry, that I have a black heart. So they name me Black Heart. AMY That is fascinating. If they named my people by their actions it would get very interesting... Now that you are feeling better, I plan on setting out in the morning. I had some people I was trying to meet up with. Will you be okay here or did you want to accompany me down the mountain? BLACK HEART Where are your people? AMY I suppose they are in Montana by now. BLACK HEART You are far from that land. Black Heart looks to the sky. BLACK HEART (CONT’D) A storm is coming and plans to stay until the river flows again. It would not be wise for you to go. AMY What? Are you suggesting I stay here all winter? 74.
  • 76.
    BLACK HEART The bearsleeps for good reason. AMY A storm? BLACK HEART Yes, may be a good idea to head down mountain when sun rises. Black Heart picks up his bow and pretends to shoot. BLACK HEART (CONT’D) My friends give you arrows? AMY No. Just the bow. BLACK HEART You have long barrel gun. AMY Yes. But no ammo. BLACK HEART That why fish, always fish? Fish is poor food. AMY (Sarcastically)) I’d like to see you do better. Amy tosses him her bead handled knife. AMY (CONT’D) That my friend, is the only weapon, I, we have. Black Heart sizes the knife up then sharpens it with a rock. EXT. ASPEN FOREST ROCK MOUNTAINS - DAY Amy is riding Savior down the mountain. Black Heart walks alongside her. Flurries begin to fall. Amy is wearing her hair down under her hat. Black Heart suddenly stops. He motions to Amy to stay put. Black Heart arms himself with the knife. He crouches and makes his way to a clearing. He SILENTLY stalks his prey. He approaches a sleeping buck. Launches forward. Mounts it. The buck takes off running. 75.
  • 77.
    Black Heart holdson, draws his knife high and pierces the dear’s heart with one swift motion. The deer collapses. Black Heart rolls to his feet. Amy LAUGHS and CLAPS her hands in amazement, then joins him. EXT. CLEARING ROCKY MOUNTAINS - DAY Snow blankets the mountain. Black Heart and Amy stay warm by a fire. Black Heart is donning some shoes and a coat he has made from the deer skin. He is finishing a shawl-like garment for Amy. Amy is feasting on some cooked deer meat. AMY Mmmm it’s utterly delicious. You are right. It is better than fish. Black Heart finishes and goes to slip the garment over her head. She instinctively flinches back. AMY (CONT’D) Sorry. Black Heart pauses. Amy sits up straight and he slips it on. BLACK HEART Looks good. AMY Thank you. Nobody has ever... well, thank you. Black Heart returns to work, making arrows. AMY (CONT’D) Can you teach me? BLACK HEART Yes. MONTAGE: Black Heart shows Amy how to fashion some arrows. They practice shooting at a target. Amy hones her skill. They pack up camp. They ride Savior together down the mountain. 76.
  • 78.
    The scenery changesand time passes. Black Heart reveals a hidden spot with a stashed teepee and gear. They erect a white, buffalo hide teepee. More snow falls. The inside of the teepee is layered in buffalo hides, there is a fire pit in the center. Amy gathers fire wood. They are ready. Winter arrives. EXT. FRONT OF TEEPEE - DAY Amy drags a small pine tree towards the teepee. Black Heart emerges from it. Amy looks happy. Her look is softer now. BLACK HEART You killed a tree? AMY No. Well, yes. It’s Christmas and where I come from we celebrate. Amy starts to drag the tree into the teepee. BLACK HEART I don’t understand. AMY Just help me and I’ll explain later. INT. MILES MODEST HOME - DAY The home is decorated for Christmas. Miles is still nursing his injured arm. His family is gathered. There is a KNOCK at the door. Miles opens it. It’s his deputy RUFUS. Rufus barges in with Burt and a couple of cronies in tow. MILES Rufus, what are you doing here? You are supposed to be watching the jailhouse? RUFUS We are here on official business. MILES Any business you have comes through me first! 77.
  • 79.
    Burt waves thecronies over to a coat rack. BURT Check the pockets. One of the cronies pulls out a jeweled necklace. BURT (CONT’D) It seems a man with a gimp arm was seen last night leaving my home... Only for me to discover some of my wife’s jewelry missing. Miles charges Burt but is subdued by the men. MILES You’re a fucking liar! Rufus are you gonna let this blowhard buy your soul? You’re pathetic! They escort Miles from the home. BURT Merry Christmas. Please return to your festivities. INT. SHERRIFF’S OFFICE - AFTERNOON Miles is sitting on a bench in the jail cell. He turns his attention to his injured arm. He removes it from its sling. He pumps his fist and rolls his shoulder. He’s determined. INT. BROTHEL - AFTERNOON The place is under Burt’s ownership. It has gone way downhill. Burt sits at the bar puffing on a pipe. Elaine comes down the stairs dragging, a now obviously pregnant and depressed Sarah, by the arm. They are dressed up nice. BURT Where do you think you’re going? We have customers. Burt and his friends LAUGH. Johnny is gone and there is a sleazy bartender. Elaine stops and gets in Burt’s face. ELAINE You might own this dump but you don’t own me dirt bag. Elaine makes her exit with Sarah. 78.
  • 80.
    INT. CHURCH -MOMENTS LATER Elaine and Sarah are greeted by Reverend Joseph. The church is quaint and cozy. The choir SINGS and there are many lit candles. They find their seats. INT. LAWSON CABIN MONTANA - EVENING The living room is full of CONVERSATION and LAUGHTER. Will stands at the foot of Frances and Gammy Mac’s bed. He unveils a huge painting of the Montana mountain side. Frances GASPS. WILL I thought it could hang over the fireplace here for you both to enjoy. Seeing that you don’t get out much and all. Robert leans in to Victor. ROBERT You know I was kidding, right? They LAUGH. ROBERT (CONT’D) Still no word from Ben? VICTOR No. I was hoping he’d be here by now. Victor gazes out the window. EXT. WOODS ROCKY MOUNTAINS - EVENING Ben is beaten up by the weather. He looks his horse over worried. He takes the reins and leads him on. Off in the distance a cabin appears. INT. HOBAN CABIN - MOMENTS LATER A family is gathered about the cabin, GEORGE HOBAN and INGE HOBAN, with their three young boys. Inge looks strikingly like Elizabeth Lawson, yet her demeanor is much more relaxed. Inge looks out the window and spots Ben approaching. He collapses. 79.
  • 81.
    INT. HOBAN CABIN- EVENING Ben sits with the Hoban family for dinner. BEN I can’t remember the last time I had a feast as fine as this. INGE What is a young fellow like you doing out here on Christmas? Do you not have a family? What would your mama say? Ben looks at Inge. BEN I don’t know? You remind me of her. She is passed now. Inge reaches for his hand. It’s trembling. BEN (CONT’D) You know, I never knew just how much I loved her. INGE It’s okay. A mother’s heart knows. BEN You think so? INGE I know so. GEORGE Benjamin, it’s a pleasure to have you here with us tonight. Let’s raise a toast. Here’s to a warm Christmas and to a mother’s unbounded heart. Ben raises his glass. BEN Thank you. Cheers. INT. TEEPEE - NIGHT Amy’s tree is decorated with some handmade ornaments. There is a fire in the fire pit. Amy and Black Heart are sharing a bottle of whiskey and smoking a pipe. Amy is tipsy. 80.
  • 82.
    AMY I don’t knowwhy I was saving this. BLACK HEART Life should be enjoyed. AMY Yes, but it is not always easy. BLACK HEART Why? Peace and happiness are available in every moment. AMY I don’t know. BLACK HEART (Declares) You are happy now. AMY Yes, I feel safe with you. Black Heart moves in close. BLACK HEART I see you. You are brave and strong. You are like Biawacheeitchish. AMY Who? BLACK HEART Woman Chief. She too dressed like man. She was great chief and great warrior. AMY You think I’m like her? BLACK HEART Yes. She fought many battles, took many wives, loved bravely, and died bravely fighting for what she believed in. AMY Your tribe had a woman chief? BLACK HEART Yes. Many. Brave women, like you. 81.
  • 83.
    Amy swoons fromthe alcohol. Black Heart catches her and lays her back. He lingers. Amy closes her eyes, tired. Black Heart picks up a blanket to cover Amy. Her leather journal spills out of it. Black Heart looks at the journal and its contents. He sees the photo of her father, the map, and the yellow feather. A memory is triggered. FLASHBACK: EXT. GREAT PLAINS 15 YEARS EARLIER - DAY Black Heart is about 4 years old. He rides with an older Crow Indian man, MEDICINE HAND. Medicine Hand wears a war bonnet. A white man rides towards them with a young, catatonic girl wrapped in a blanket. MEDICINE HAND White Man Whiskey. They stop in close proximity. MEDICINE HAND (CONT’D) You have child with you? LEVI It’s my daughter, Amy. She is sick. Levi gives medicine man a couple bottles of whiskey. Medicine Hand trades him a bead handled knife and sheath. Medicine Hand takes a long look at Amy. LEVI (CONT’D) I have tried everything. She won’t eat or talk. I thought you might could help her. MEDICINE HAND Her soul is sick. It casts a long black shadow over her pure heart. Medicine Hand pulls one yellow feather from his war bonnet. He closes his eyes. Holds the feather to his heart then to the sky. He CHANTS. Medicine Hand hands the feather to Black Heart and motions for him to deliver it to Levi. He does. Levi goes to take the feather, Amy’s head tips back, and Black Heart stares deep into her lifeless expression. 82.
  • 84.
    LEVI Thank you. Black Heartreturns to his horse. The Indian’s ride off. Levi tucks the yellow feather into Amy’s blanket and kisses her forehead before riding away in the other direction. INT. TEEPEE PRESENT TIME - NIGHT Black Heart looks at Amy and tucks the feather into her blanket with her. INT. TEEPEE - MORNING Black Heart pushes open the flap of the teepee letting in some morning light. He see’s something. He gets excited and wakes up Amy. BLACK HEART Amy! Wake up! It’s time. AMY What? Time for what? BLACK HEART Time to hunt. MONTAGE: Black Heart paints Amy’s face then Savior. Amy puts her hair in two side braids. Amy arms herself with a bow and some arrows. Black Heart places the yellow feather into Amy’s hair. They mount Savior. Black Heart is at the reins. Amy rides just behind him, they move in one fluid motion. The ground is covered in snow and there is a dense fog. EXT. GREAT PLAINS - MOMENTS LATER Black Heart stops. QUIET. We circle them. We see his breath. Out of the fog, a buffalo emerges. Foggy Breath. Black Heart kicks Savior into full gear. The buffalo runs. 83.
  • 85.
    The fog lifts.They are riding in the middle of a herd of buffalo. Snow falls. Time slows. Amy smiles. Stretches her arms out. Leans her head back. Closes her eyes. SHE IS FREE. We begin to return to real time with the sound of Amy’s HEART BEAT and her every BREATH. The sound of Savior’s hooves DRUMMING the Earth. Black Heart WHOOPS. They move in on a buffalo. Amy pulls out an arrow, sets up aim, and takes him down with one shot. They dismount. Red blood seeps into the snow. Black Heart WHOOPS. Amy WHOOPS. EXT. AMY AND BLACK HEART’S CAMP - DAY Spring has arrived. Amy and Black Heart are packed up. Amy looks at a map. AMY I have it all planned out. Would you like to take a look? BLACK HEART No. I know my way. AMY Okay. Let’s go. They begin their journey. EXT. HOBAN CABIN - DAY The boys are horsing around with Ben. Ben is clean shaven and looks well cared for. George is loading Ben’s gear. Inge watches on. GEORGE You’re all set here. BEN Thank you. Ben shakes George’s hand. Inge hands Ben some food. INGE Take care of yourself. Ben takes the food, turns to leave. He pauses, then turns back towards Inge to give her a big hug. BEN Inge, thank you, for everything. 84.
  • 86.
    Ben mounts hishorse. INGE I hope you find what you’re searching for. Ben smiles and rides off. INGE (CONT’D) And don’t be a stranger! EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - DAY Zane is riding along with Maridai behind him. She is morose with a black eye and fat lip. She is bound at the wrists. ZANE This looks like a good spot to rest. Zane dismounts and pull Maridai off the horse. MARIDAI Help! Please somebody help me! ZANE You can scream your little heart out but ain’t nobody commin for you. Zane kisses her mouth and STIFLES her. EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - DAY Black Heart is washing up in a creek. Amy looks towards the trees. AMY I’ll get us some firewood. EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - DAY Ben rides along peacefully. EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - DAY Zane is asleep. Maridai is tied to a tree. With some effort she frees herself. She runs into the woods. 85.
  • 87.
    EXT. SOMEWHERE INTHE ROCKIES - MOMENTS LATER Amy is gathering fire wood. EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - MOMENTS LATER Maridai is turned around and unsure which way to run. She decides and is off again. Zane lurches out from behind a tree and grabs her by the hair. ZANE You’re gonna pay for this Bitch! EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES - MOMENTS LATER Amy hears a SCREAM. She drops her wood. Draws her knife and runs swiftly through the trees. Amy comes upon Zane wrestling Maridai. He has a gun to her head. Amy pounces on Zane’s back. He FIRES the gun. Amy’s advance deflects the bullet. The noise ECHOES in the sky. The noise alerts both Black Heart and Ben who are in the area. Black Heart runs through the forest at mock speed. Ben turns his horse around and draws his gun. Maridai has freed herself and is crawling away. Zane and Amy are in a heated struggle. Amy is putting up a good fight. She pulls then loses her knife. Zane gets her pinned and is about to shoot her. He recognizes her and LAUGHS. ZANE Well, well, it seems to be my lucky day... Amy. AMY How do you know my name? ZANE You don’t remember me? I’m sure you remember Burt, Burt Meyers. AMY That piece of shit! ZANE That piece of shit is willing to pay a pretty penny for your head on a platter. You are a pretty little thing. 86.
  • 88.
    Amy spits inhis face. He KNOCKS her out with is gun. Black Heart sees this and charges Zane. The men fight. Black Heart has the upper hand. Ben arrives he takes aim on Zane and SHOOTS. The men roll missing the gunfire. Zane gets his hand on Amy’s knife. Amy wakes. Time slows. SILENCE. Amy witnesses Zane stab Black Heart. Time and SOUND return. She crawls to his aid. Ben and Zane fight in the background. Amy cradles Black Heart and sees he is mortally wounded. Black Heart looks at Amy and a sense of peace comes over him. AMY Oh my God. It’s okay. I can fix this, I have healing powers... remember? BLACK HEART Amy, it’s over. AMY Wake up! What about your vision? BLACK HEART You. You were my vision. It was you who needed healing. In return my heart now knows love. Amy’s tears fall. AMY Please. Don’t go. BLACK HEART The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears. He wipes her tears. Amy kisses him. He dies. The fight continues. Zane is about to shoot Ben. Amy kicks the gun away. Ben retrieves it and SHOOTS Zane dead. Ben stands over the body and spits on him. Maridai SOBS. Ben walks to her and kneels down and offers his hand. She shakes in fear. AMY Ben, you don’t think you are going to gain her trust with that bloody hand do you? Ben looks down at his bloody hand. 87.
  • 89.
    EXT. LAWSON RANCHMONTANA - DAY The ranch is bustling. The men are hard at work. Will is now buff and extremely skillful. He is breaking a horse. Victor is watching him. Amy is riding Savior with Maridai on the back. Ben rides alongside them. They are noticed by one of the ranch hands. He lets out a WHISTLE. Victor turns to see them approaching. He starts to walk over, recognizes Ben, and then makes out Amy. Time slows. Their eyes meet. Amy smiles. BEN Father. VICTOR What took so long? BEN I’m not sure. But I’m here now. They hug. VICTOR I am so glad. BEN My god, I can’t believe my eyes. Is that Will out there? Victor locks eyes with Amy again. VICTOR Yes, go see him. He will be pleased you have arrived. Ben helps Maridai down first. Bonnie sees she is in need of help and rushes over. Bonnie escorts Maridai into the house. Ben runs over towards Will. VICTOR (CONT’D) Is it really you? AMY Yes. INT. LAWSON MONTANA BARN - NIGHT Amy is tending to Savior. Victor enters and watches her unnoticed for several moments. 88.
  • 90.
    VICTOR I was therethat night Amy. She starts to brush Savior. VICTOR (CONT’D) I think you should know all of what happened. He starts to approach her. VICTOR (CONT’D) It was late. Elizabeth and I had an argument. FLASHBACK: INT. BROTHEL 15 YEARS EARLIER - NIGHT The bar is empty except for Victor, Dan, and Levi. Dan is tending bar and has his vision. Victor and Levi are drinking and palling around. Upstairs a door CLOSES. Dirty cowboy #1 and dirty cowboy #2 exit the bedroom LAUGHING. They make their way to a couple of seats at the bar. Upstairs a suspicious Elaine enters the bedroom. Charity is passed out. Amy lays in the bed sucking her thumb. Elaine gets the attention of two of the whores to help her. ELAINE Draw her a bath. She needs to sober up. The two women escort Charity out of the room. Elaine looks in the bag then over at Amy. ELAINE (CONT’D) My God... Elaine heads down the stairs. She whispers in Levi’s ear. His expression turns fierce. He looks at the two dirty cowboys. Levi leans in and has a few words with Dan and Victor. LEVI Elaine, go take care of my baby. Victor lock the door. Victor LOCKS the door. The dirty cowboy #1 takes notice. Dan comes over the bar to subdue him. 89.
  • 91.
    Dirty cowboy #2smashes a beer mug into Dan’s face. His eyes begin to bleed. Victor and Levi fight the two dirty cowboys. VICTOR (V.O.) I’ve never seen a man so enraged. EXT. SOMEWHERE IN THE DARKNESS - NIGHT Victor and Levi are finishing digging two graves. Victor holds up a lantern illuminating the two dirty cowboys. They are naked, beaten, and bound by their wrists. DIRTY COWBOY #2 Please, don’t do this. Levi gets in his face. LEVI (Seething) Is that what my baby said? You sick, twisted, piece of shit. DIRTY COWBOY #1 Please don’t kill us! I have a wife and children. LEVI I’m not gonna kill you. DIRTY COWBOY #1 You’re not? LEVI No. I’m not. I’m just gonna bury you. Victor looks taken back. We see a coffin in each hole. The dirty cowboys PLEAD from the inside of the boxes. Levi PILES the dirt on top of them. VICTOR (V.O.) I have never known evil... seen evil... been evil until that dark night. It started with those vile men like a flicker and then it spread through us like a wild fire. 90.
  • 92.
    INT. BROTHEL BATHROOM- NIGHT Elaine shuts the bathroom door leaving a wasted Charity alone in the tub full of water. After a few moments Charity slips under the water, it SPLASHES over the edges. She drowns. Elaine wraps Amy in a blanket. Amy is catatonic. Elaine cradles her. Rocks her. And SINGS her a lullaby. INT. LAWSON MONTANA BARN PRESENT TIME - NIGHT Amy looks at Victor. She takes his hand and holds it to her chest. AMY It’s okay. It’s all behind us now. I know who you are. And I finally, know who I am. They embrace. INT. LAWSON CABIN MONTANA - MORNING Ben serves Maridai a plate of food. He sits across from her and begins to eat. BEN You need to eat. She stares at her food. BEN (CONT’D) You can’t change what happened. Maridai looks at Ben. BEN (CONT’D) I know the pain you are feeling. He killed my mother and my baby brother. He was only four. Carlos RUNS through the kitchen. Maria, with her swaddled newborn, follows quickly behind. MARIDAI How did it feel to kill him? BEN I don’t know, why? 91.
  • 93.
    MARIDAI Because that isall I thought about when he was with me. BEN Honestly, I thought I would feel more. MARIDAI More? BEN Yeah. I thought it would take some of the pain away and I would feel more... happy. MARIDAI And do you? BEN No. I don’t. Eat. Maridai takes a small bite of her food. EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - MOMENTS LATER Carlos, Maria, and the baby exit to stroll the grounds. Miguel joins them. Amy and Will watch from the front porch while sipping coffee. Amy reaches into her pocket and hands Will something. His expression changes. WILL How did you get this? AMY No matter. I thought you should be the one to return it to its rightful owner. He is holding the necklace he gave to Sarah the night they made love. He has a memory of the moment. He is brought back by a playful SCREAM from Carlos. Will watches the family. AMY (CONT’D) Will, she’s pregnant. Very pregnant by now. Will looks deep in thought. Amy watches him and waits. WILL We have to go get her. 92.
  • 94.
    Amy smiles. Willstands up determined. WILL (CONT’D) Now! AMY That is what I was hoping you’d say! EXT. GREAT PLAINS - DAY We focus on the hooves of many running horses. We see it’s Will, Amy, Victor, Ben, and Robert riding at full speed. INT. BROTHEL - DAY Two cronies drag Sarah down the stairs. They stand her in front of a table where Burt is sitting with another man, ROGER. He is slimy and reeks of dirty money. BURT Is this the one? ROGER Yes. However, she wasn’t in this condition the last time I came through here. BURT Well, obviously she won’t be in this condition forever. ROGER I’ll give you half of what we discussed. BURT Half?! Roger gets up to leave. BURT (CONT’D) Okay. Half! They shake hands. Roger winks at Sarah before leaving. BURT (CONT’D) It looks like I have secured you your first customer. SARAH What?! 93.
  • 95.
    Sarah’s knees giveout. The two cronies catch her under either arm. GUSH she looks down, her water has broken, soaking Burt’s shoes. BURT Get her out of here! They drag her upstairs. BURT (CONT’D) Someone clean up this mess! INT. BROTHEL BEDROOM - DAY Elaine is running around frantically. Two women, MELISSA and GRACE are aiding her as she tends to Sarah. Sarah is in full blown labor. Sarah is pale, sweaty, and PANTING. Elaine helps Sarah to a standing position. Sarah is bearing down, she SCREAMS. Elaine looks down. ELAINE Something is wrong. Melissa quick get Doctor Halloran! Melissa looks horrified, then rushes out. ELAINE (CONT’D) Grace, go get Reverend Joseph. GRACE Why? ELAINE Just in case. GRACE Are you sure? ELAINE Yes. Sarah lets out a painful MOAN. ELAINE (CONT’D) Hurry, go now. Grace hovers. ELAINE (CONT’D) Go! 94.
  • 96.
    Grace runs out. INT.BROTHEL BEDROOM - AFTERNOON Elaine strokes Sarah’s hair. Doctor Halloran is trying to manipulate a breech baby out with no luck. Sarah is fading in and out of consciousness. Grace returns with Reverend Joseph. REVEREND JOSEPH My God! Dr. Halloran stands. DR. HALLORAN It’s useless. I’ve tried everything. ELAINE Isn’t there anything more we can do for her? DR. HALLORAN I’m afraid not. Dr. Halloran starts to pack up. REVEREND JOSEPH Wait, we can pray. They all bow their heads. REVEREND JOSEPH (CONT’D) Dear heavenly father, we ask that you bestow upon us a miracle of your greatest power for this young mother and her unborn child. In Jesus name we pray. INT. BROTHEL - EVENING Burt looks at his pocket watch. Dr. Halloran exits the upstairs bedroom carrying a body swaddled in a white sheet. He heads down the stairs and out the front door. Reverend Joseph holds Elaine by the arm and accompanies her down the stairs. She is holding a box. BURT (Annoyed) She’s dead? 95.
  • 97.
    ELAINE You’d best hobbleyour lip! REVEREND JOSEPH Come child. We must go now. They leave together. EXT. MIDDLE OF TOWN - EVENING Amy and the boys have arrived and are riding slowly through town. Amy looks around. Businesses are abandoned, some burnt down, others with strange interlopers. VICTOR Something is wrong. I’ll get Miles and meet you all at the saloon. ROBERT I’ll accompany you. INT. SHERRIFF’S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER Miles is locked up and doing a set of pushups. Victor and Robert enter. Rufus is drunk. Miles sees them and stands. RUFUS (Slurring) What do you want? VICTOR We have come for our friend here. Rufus draws his gun. RUFUS As you can see, he is being detained. VICTOR I see that. RUFUS Are you gonna ask me why? VICTOR Why? RUFUS Cause he is a thievin son of a bitch. 96.
  • 98.
    ROBERT Is that right? RUFUS Yeah. Victorgrabs the gun from Rufus and turns it on him. VICTOR We both know that is bullshit. Where are the keys? Rufus point to them. Robert retrieves the keys and UNLOCKS the cell door. Miles exits. ROBERT You’re free to go sir. MILES Thank you. Miles gets in Rufus’s face. Rufus pees his pants. Miles strips his badge and then knocks him out cold. They drag Rufus in the cell and lock him up. VICTOR We have returned with Amy MILES Amy?! She’s alive? Where is she? VICTOR She went to get Sarah. Miles begins to arm himself. MILES Burt is now running this town. The whole damn place has gone up the spout! Miles throws the men some ammo. ROBERT Gentlemen let’s not waste any more time. Let’s get a wiggle on! EXT. BROTHEL - EVENING Amy peers into the window unseen. Burt and his cronies are playing cards. Burt is cheating. 97.
  • 99.
    AMY There are six. Shechecks to see that her gun is fully loaded. AMY (CONT’D) I don’t see Sarah. WILL Why don’t we just walk in? You own this place, right? AMY Not anymore. That asshole Burt apparently hired Zane and his posse to rob and kill me. BEN You mean the day my mother was murdered? AMY Exactly, so this might not be so easy. BEN We’ll see about that. Ben, gun drawn, walks to the front door. Robert, Victor, and Miles arrive, draw their weapons, and join him. INT. BROTHEL - MOMENTS LATER The men enter, guns drawn. The cronies stand and draw their guns. Burt stays seated. He looks up from his cards. Amy comes in. Burt LAUGHS at the sight of her. AMY Where is Sarah? BURT You’re too late. AMY What do you mean I’m too late? Did she have the baby? BURT No, she was a failure at that too. She died tryin’ before I could make a penny off her. 98.
  • 100.
    AMY You’re lying. Amy runsupstairs. BURT See for yourself! At the top of the stairs a woman gives Amy a “sorry” look. Amy slows down, now cautious. Amy opens the bedroom door. The hinges CREAK. A chaotic scene is revealed, blood pooled on the floor, blood stained towels and sheets. Amy is consumed with grief. Her reaction sets Will off. He runs up the stairs and peers over Amy’s shoulder. Will’s reaction is primal. It sets Ben off. Ben charges Burt. The advance starts a SHOOT OUT. The men take cover. Miles is dropping them like flies. Ben wails on Burt. Will walks down the stairs in a state of shock. The bullets WHIZ by him. He exits unharmed. Amy reacts. She grabs a kerosene lamp douses the bedding, and STRIKES a match. The flicker catches in her eye. She flicks the match onto the mattress. It IGNITES. INT. CHURCH - MOMENTS LATER The church is empty. Light streams in through the stained glass window. Will enters stoic. He stares at the cross over the pulpit. He drops to his knees. Cocks his pistol. Puts the barrel in his mouth and pressures the trigger. A baby CRIES. He stands. Walks to a nearby curtain and PULLS it back, revealing a small room. Sarah sits on the floor trying to nurse a newborn baby. Elaine sits close by. After a moment Will rushes in to cradle Sarah and the baby. SARAH Will! She cries. ELAINE It’s a girl. He looks at them. WILL She is beautiful. She looks like you. 99.
  • 101.
    SARAH Her name isElizabeth, after your Mother. WILL She would be honored. ELAINE Son, what in the hell took you so long? WILL Amy. ELAINE Amy? Is she here? She’s alive? WILL Yes. But she thinks you’re dead. SARAH You have to go get her. Will stands. ELAINE You stay here. I’ll go. Will hands Elaine his gun. WILL You’re gonna need this. ELAINE Hell, yeah. EXT. MIDDLE OF TOWN - MOMENTS LATER The sun has set. Elaine marches towards the burning brothel. The GUNFIRE gets LOUDER as she approaches. Miles and Robert exit the burning building COUGHING. INT. BROTHEL - MOMENTS LATER Amy is the only one shooting. She is systematically destroying the bar. With every shot bottles, mugs, and lamps SHATTER. Ben is strangling Burt with his bare hands. The other cronies lie dead. The fire is out of control. VICTOR Amy, Ben, let’s go! 100.
  • 102.
    Amy runs outof ammo. She heads for the door grabbing Victor’s hand. He motions her to go on. She leaves COUGHING. Ben is in a frenzy, choking Burt, when he hears his dad’s voice as if it were in a tunnel. VICTOR (CONT’D) (Tunneled) Ben, let’s go. The building is gonna come down! Come on son... he’s not worth it! Ben comes around. Victor frees Ben’s grip and starts to help Burt out. Ben assists him. Burt pulls away to return for his money. Victor and Ben make it out just before the building collapses. Killing Burt. Elaine approaches behind Amy. ELAINE Burn, baby burn! AMY Elaine! They embrace. ELAINE Shucks, it looks like I missed all the fun. AMY Sarah.. ELAINE Shhh, honey she’s okay. AMY What? I thought she was dead?! ELAINE No, she is just fine. AMY Where is she? ELAINE They are at the church. AMY They? ELAINE Yes honey her, Will, and the baby. 101.
  • 103.
    AMY The baby too?Are you sure? ELAINE Yes honey. Go! AMY Thank you God! INT. CHURCH - MOMENTS LATER The church is lit up with candle light. We see Amy and Victor enter the church. Amy goes to Sarah. Sarah tries to stand but is too weak. Amy gets down on the floor and hugs her. Amy looks her over. She is wearing her necklace from Will. Will is cradling baby Liz. He shows the baby to Amy and then his father. WILL It’s a girl. VICTOR Wow. Son. She is perfect. WILL I know. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful. Robert and Ben enter. ROBERT Did I hear it’s a girl! My Lord! She’s a peach! BEN What is her name? WILL Elizabeth, after mother. BEN Can I hold her? Ben cradles the child. INT. BEAUTY SHOP - DAY - ONE YEAR LATER Elaine has built a beauty shop where the brothel once stood. A sign out front reads, “Elaine’s House of Beauty”. Dan PLAYS the piano for the ladies while they work. Elaine looks out the window. 102.
  • 104.
    She sees Milespatrolling the streets with a new deputy. Margaret rides by on a feeble Molly. ELAINE (Under her breath) I can’t believe that thing is still alive. MELISSA Miss Elaine, did you say something? ELAINE No, honey. Freddie runs to catch up with Margaret. Elaine smiles and waves at him. He blushes, smiles, and waves back. The front door opens and a bell RINGS. A courier enters. He delivers a letter to Elaine. ELAINE (CONT’D) Girls pack your bags. We have a wedding to attend. The girls SQUEAL. EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - DAY The ranch is decked out for a wedding. Ben and Will play with Elizabeth. The round-up gang are all dressed up. INT. LAWSON CABIN MONTANA - DAY Elaine, Sarah, and Amy are in an upstairs bedroom. SARAH I better go check on Liz. I love you! You look beautiful. Sarah hugs Amy and leaves. Elaine stares out the window. She is watching the round-up gang. ELAINE Are you sure you want to settle down with one man for the rest of your life? AMY Yes. I’m sure. ELAINE Come. Look at them all down there! They are all so fetching. 103.
  • 105.
    Amy peeks overElaine’s shoulder. AMY I’m sure. Amy is dressed in a simple white, lace wedding gown. Bonnie enters with a tray of beverages. BONNIE Oh look at you. You’re stunning! Bonnie kisses Amy lovingly. Sets down the drinks. And leaves. Elaine cuts her eyes at Bonnie as she exits. AMY What? She’s delightful. Amy sits on the bed and plays with the fabric of her dress. ELAINE White huh? AMY Yes, some of us can wear it honestly. ELAINE No? AMY Yes. ELAINE Then what have you been doing out here for the past year child? AMY Catching up. ELAINE What if he can’t get it up? AMY Elaine! You’re incorrigible. ELAINE Yes I am. AMY Elaine, why did you stay all those years? ELAINE What do you mean? 104.
  • 106.
    AMY So many womencame and went but you... you were the only one that stayed. Why? ELAINE Honey, I don’t know. AMY Yes you do. Why? ELAINE Cause I fell in love, that’s why. AMY That’s great! With who? ELAINE I fell in love with an amazing little girl, who needed me... and I vowed to her, you, years ago that I would always be there to protect you and love you the way you deserved. AMY Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done without you. ELAINE It’s me who should be thanking you. Every day you filled my heart child... and I didn’t want to deprive man kind of my talents. Amy LAUGHS. There is a KNOCK at the door. AMY Come in. MILES It’s time sunshine. Are you ready? AMY I’m beyond ready. EXT. LAWSON RANCH MONTANA - MOMENTS LATER Everyone has turned out for the big event. Sarah, Will, and Liz sit together in the front row. Robert and Bonnie wheel out Frances and Gammy Mac. Victor stands with a reverend. 105.
  • 107.
    Everyone stands. TheMUSIC starts. Miles walks Amy down the aisle. Amy locks eyes with Victor. SILENCE. We hear her heart BEAT, her every BREATH. SOUND returns. Amy takes Victor’s hand. REVEREND We gather here today to join together in holy matrimony Victor Lawson and Amy Vass. MONTAGE: We see images of Amy and Victor’s past moments together. We then see images of them over the past year at the Montana ranch. Several images of the wedding ceremony. The many people who have gathered. REVEREND (CONT’D) Do you Victor take Amy to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live? VICTOR I do. REVEREND Amy do you take Victor to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live? AMY Yes. With all my heart. I do. REVEREND Victor, you may kiss your bride. They KISS! ELAINE That’s my girl! The crowd CHEERS! Amy throws her bouquet up into the air. The sun lights up her smiling face. FADE OUT. 106.