Salt

SALT

Written by Pat Turman

Copyright (c) 2023

SUPERIMPOSE over a black screen:

St. Louis 1922

With the screen still black, we hear an old-fashioned ALARM CLOCK go off. The black screen is suddenly filled with the image of a night stand with the ALARM CLOCK on it as it noisily flails away. A hand reaches out and clobbers it, rendering it lifeless.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL:

INT. SMALL HOTEL ROOM - MORNING

A man in bed, the early morning sun streaming brightly through the window, sits up.

He immediately starts to COUGH-a deep, long smoker’s hack that seems to go on forever. It finally takes mercy on him and subsides. At which point, he takes a knarled, half-smoken cigarette from an ash tray next to the alarm clock. He takes a book of matches, also on the night stand, and lights the cigarette.

The old man sits there a second smoking, for he is indeed old. But probably not as old as he looks.

And the little hotel room he’s staying in also looks old. And cheap. We know it’s a hotel room because we can see the door behind the bed, which has a sign on the door that says:

ROOM 212 CHECK OUT TIME NOON

The old man puts the cigarette out and tries to stand up. It’s not easy, because of his knees giving out, but he finally stands up and walks out of frame to the bathroom.

The camera stays on the bed as, off-camera, the old man starts to COUGH again.

FADE OUT

SUPERIMPOSE:

A title over the black screen that says:

FADE IN

EXT. HOMESTEAD - DAY

A sturdy unadorned, unpainted, two story house made of wood sets nestled next to a small creek. A mountain range can be seen in the distance. There are a couple of cows, chickens running around, and several horses in a rough-hewn corral.

A stone’s throw away from the house can be seen a man behind a horse and plow, working a crop of wheat or maybe barley.

This is LEVI COON.

He takes off his hat to wipe his brow when he sees two men on horses in the distance, galloping towards him. He puts his hat back on and waits for the riders to get to him.

They thunder up to him, pulling up the reins only a second or two before the horses trample him. One of the men draws a revolver, cocks it, and points it at Levi.

MAN WITH PISTOL

You! Tend to our horses and put’em with the others!

CUT TO:

EXT. A DIFFERENT HOUSE - DAY

Also two stories, this one is painted white with a picket fence in front of it.

SUPERIMPOSE:

BUFFALO SPRINGS, TEXAS

Unlike the first house, with mountains and trees and a creek, this second house is set in the middle of a flat and dry environment without a tree in sight. Behind the house, tending a garden, a man kneels down inspecting tomatoes growing in a tomato patch.

He’s clean shaven, in his early-mid 30s, with short hair under his hat. And he wears a badge that hangs just above his left pocket.

This is SHERIFF JOHN PACKETT.

As Sheriff Packett inspects his tomatoes, a lone rider in the distance gallops up to him. He is also wearing a badge and we will soon learn that he is Sheriff Packett's deputy.

The deputy, named MACE BOWMAN, is also clean-cut, skinny as a rail, and maybe 10 years younger than Sheriff Packett.

MACE (with urgency)

You better come, Sheriff. Cheney’s drunk again, twistin off in the Grey Wolf this time.

Sheriff Packett stands up.

SHERIFF PACKETT Again? That ol buzzard.

Only now do we notice that although he wouldn't be considered obese, Sheriff Packett is a little on the outof-shape side.

He pulls off his hat and wipes the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve.

Although not completely hairless on top, his bald head is visible through his thinning blonde hair.

CUT TO:

INT/EXT LEVI COON'S HOUSE - DAY

The man who drew the pistol on Levi is looking through a window from out on the front porch. Still holding his pistol, he comes through the front door and closes it.

MAN WITH PISTOL (loud) Hullo to the lady of the house!! Abigail!! Come on out!! We've got your husband!!

EXT. HORSE CORRAL - MOMENTS LATER

The other outlaw is sitting on a corral post with his gun pointed at Levi. His name is Bill Wilkerson but everybody calls him ROWDY.

He watches Levi as he unsaddles his and his partner's horses inside the corral with Levi's other horses.

Levi starts to untie a saddlebag that's on one of the horses.

ROWDY

Bring that saddlebag over here.

Levi does what he’s told. He brings it over to Rowdy and sets it down at his feet.

Levi notices that Rowdy is very young. Probably not even 18. No hair is visible under his hat which looks too big for his head.

He’s also clean-shaven, without a doubt because he’s too young to shave.

ROWDY

What you lookin at?

LEVI Nothing.

Rowdy jumps off the fence poll, at all times keeping his gun aimed at Levi.

ROWDY

Now get the wagon.

INT. LEVI’S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

The Man with the Pistol is holding Levi’s wife to him with his gun pointed at her head. They are both looking out the front window. The silence builds as they wait and watch.

The man with the pistol's name is DAN MATHER.

He is in his 20’s with long, jet-black hair that falls out of his hat over and past his ears. He also has a droopy black mustache popular in the day.

Being well over six feet tall, he drapes over ABIGAIL, Levi’s wife who--along with being short--has a small, frail figure.

She has straight, sandy-blonde hair down to her shoulders.

She is pretty but also looks very young-- probably 15 or 16 years old.

DAN (breaking the silence) You his only wife?

ABIGAIL Yes. DAN I thought your kind liked having more than one.

ABIGAIL

I’m his only wife.

DAN

How come y’all ain’t got no kids?

ABIGAIL

We was just married last month.

EXT. LEVI’S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Levi pulls up in a wagon being pulled by two horses. Sitting in the wagon next to him, with his gun still out, is Rowdy. As Levi stops the horses in front of the house, the front door opens. Dan, also holding his gun, steps outside.

DAN

Hurry up! Get in here!!

Levi and Rowdy jump off the wagon and rush into the house. Dan looks around outside.

INT. LEVI’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Levi, Rowdy, and Dan come in the house. Dan closes the front door. Abigail is standing there. Levi goes up to her and pulls her to him, protectively.

LEVI

How are you? Did he.... ABIGAIL No. I'm fine.

DAN (to Levi) I didn't lay a hand on her. (to Rowdy) You get the saddlebag?

ROWDY

I hid it. In the wagon. DAN You tell him?

ROWDY

Yeah. DAN

Okay, Abigail. We’re gonna borrow your husband for a couple a days. You wanna see him alive again, don’t ya?

ABIGAIL Yes. DAN Then you need to promise me something.

ABIGAIL What? DAN

You gotta promise me when that posse gets here, you ain’t seen us.

And as far as you know, your husband went into town for supplies.

ABIGAIL

Okay.

Dan grabs Levi’s arm and violently pulls Levi to him. He points his revolver directly at Levi’s head.

DAN Promise me!

ABIGAIL

I promise! DAN Say it! I promise that I never seen anybody ride up.

ABIGAIL

I promise that I never seen anybody ride up.

DAN

And my husband went into town for supplies.

ABIGAIL

And my husband rode into town for supplies.

DAN

Good! That posse better not come bearing down on us none too soon.

He cocks the gun pointed at Levi’s head.

DAN Understand?

ABIGAIL I understand.

DAN

What’s your last name? LEVI Coon.

DAN

(still pointing the revolver at Levi)

I hope you understand, Abigail Coon. For his sake. And your’n. Do what you promised.

Convince that posse we ain’t been here. Do that and your husband’ll be back to you safe and sound in a few days.

Now let’s go!!

Dan pushes Levi away from him and uncocks his gun.

EXT. LEVI’S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

The wagon sits in front of the house.

In the back of the wagon is a shovel, pick, a plow tongue, and other farming implements. Several burlap sacks are covering what looks like lumber.

The ends of a couple of 2 by 4’s are sticking out from under the sacks.

Levi, Dan, and Rowdy come out of the house. Dan and Rowdy still have their guns out but holster them. Abigail follows them out, hanging by the door.

DAN (to Levi) Get up there.

Levi climbs up into the seat of the wagon.

DAN

Hurry up, Rowdy!

Rowdy climbs in the back and disappears under the burlap sacks.

LEVI Where we goin?

DAN

See those mountains? We're goin over them.

Just turn right on the main road for now. I’ll let you know from there.

ABIGAIL

That's a two day ride. I'll make you a basket with some supper.

DAN We ain't got time for that!

Dan climbs into the back of the wagon.

DAN (to Levi) Ride slow! And if you see anybody, don’t bring no attention to yourself! (to Abigail)

And remember what you promised, Abigail Coon!!

(to Levi) NOW GO!!

Dan also disappears under the burlap sacks.

Levi starts the horses up. He takes one last look at Abigail. Standing in the door, she has a worried look on her face.

Levi, with some effort, gives her a look that says everything will be okay.

She watches the wagon as it slowly takes her husband towards the mountains in the distance and away from her. CUT TO:

INT. GREY WOLF SALOON - AFTERNOON

A big Texan (about 6 foot 5) by the name of BOB CHENEY is brandishing a revolver.

The handful of patrons that are in the establishment are hidden behind whatever chairs and tables they can find.

It’s obvious that Cheney's drunk as a skunk. He empties his revolver into the ceiling. He continues shooting as the empty chambers CLICK.

Sheriff Packett and Deputy Bowman step through the door and into the saloon. Cheney stops and looks at them. There’s a moment of SILENCE as Cheney and the Sheriff lock eyes.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Let’s go, Bob.

Like a wild animal provoked, Cheney throws his empty gun at the Sheriff and rushes him.

Packett ducks as the gun flies past his head and then digs a fist into Cheney’s stomach, causing him to fall to the floor.

Before Cheney can get up, he’s looking down the barrel of a Colt 45. He freezes as Sheriff Packett pulls the hammer back.

SHERIFF PACKETT (calm)

I guess you didn’t hear me, Bob. Let’s go.

INT. BUFFALO SPRINGS JAIL CELL - LATER

Bob Cheney comes in the front door, followed by Sheriff Packett still holding his pistol on Cheney, followed by Deputy Mace Bowman.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Get in the cell.

Cheney walks across the room to the one jail cell in the corner. He goes in and has a seat on the bench. Mace locks the cell door and the Sheriff holsters his gun.

SHERIFF PACKETT

(to Mace)

He’s just trying to get a fisticuff started. We'll let him go in the morning.

MACE

Okay.

They both walk across the room. Mace has a seat at the desk.

CHENEY

You’re a coward, Packett! You think you’re a big man!

SHERIFF PACKETT

Close your mouth, Cheney! (to Mace) I’m goin’ home.

MACE

Okay, Sheriff. See you after supper.

CHENEY

Big man! Big man in a little town, that's what you are!

The Sheriff looks at Cheney.

SHERIFF

PACKETT (to Mace) And don’t give him no water till he shuts up.

Sheriff Packett heads for the door.

EXT. BUFFALO SPRINGS JAIL -

CONTINUOUS

Sheriff Packett comes out. We can still hear Cheney's rant from inside the jail.

CHENEY AND WHERE WOULD YOU BE WITHOUT YOUR DADDY, WHO GAVE YOU YOUR JOB?

The Sheriff stands there listening to Cheney for a few seconds as Cheney continues his rant.

CHENEY

YOU'RE A HAS-BEEN!!

YOU CAPTURED ONE OUTLAW 10 YEARS AGO!! WHAT'VE YOU DONE SINCE THEN? BIG MAN IN A LITTLE--

The Sheriff finally closes the door, effectively shutting up Cheney and walks away.

EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF BUFFALO SPRINGS - DUSK

LONG SHOT of the town. We see that it's not too little but not a metropolis either. It sits on the dusty plains in the middle of nowhere.

A lonely rider, off in the distance on a horse, watches a train as it pulls out of the town and into the vast empty space that surrounds it.

CLOSE UP on the lonely rider.

We see that it's Sheriff John Packett. He silently and somberly watches the train as it disappears into the distance.

INT. PACKETT DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Sheriff Packett’s family is seated at the dining table, with food on their plates ready to be eaten.

One of the family members at the table is an older woman, MOTHER PACKETT (Sheriff Packett's stepmother, we'll soon learn), a pioneer woman who has seen more than her fair share of hardship. And survived.

Another is the COLONEL (Sheriff Packett's father) who's an old codger who looks to be 100 (probably closer to 80).

Also seated at the table are Sheriff Packett's wife and daughter, who we will meet presently.

Sheriff Packett is leading them in Grace.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Lord, thank you for the bread we are about to eat. And help us to seek out Your presence in all that we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The table is a sudden flurry of movement as they all dig in.

COLONEL Tea.

Mother Packett picks up a glass of tea to hand it to the Colonel. He gropes around until he has it secured in both hands and takes a drink. We realize that he’s blind.

SHERIFF PACKETT

So what are you wearing to the ceremony next week, Daddy?

COLONEL

My uniform! Potatoes. Same one I wore when we wooped the Yanks at Adobe Walls.

Mother Packett scoops some potatoes off of the Colonel’s plate and brings them up to his mouth.

POLLY

You told that story, Grandpa!

LUCY Young Lady, what is the rule at the table?

POLLY (rote, memorized) I do not speak at the table unless spoken to.

LUCY

That’s right. Now eat.

LUCY PACKETT, wife of the sheriff, would not be described as unattractive so much as nondescript. And like her husband, she has lost her shape over the years.

POLLY PACKETT, the Packett's daughter, is eight years old. She has straight, mousy brown hair that hangs halfway down her back and that her mother brushes 100 times a night.

COLONEL

My Medals! Did you polish my medals!?

The Colonel is suddenly very agitated.

MOTHER PACKETT

Mr. Packett, just calm yourself down. I already polished them and they are nice and shiny, just how you like them.

COLONEL

You lost them!

SHERIFF PACKETT

Daddy, Mother didn’t lose them.

MOTHER PACKETT

I didn’t lose your medals, Mr. Packett. I can show them to you if you want.

COLONEL

Just make sure you polish them!

MOTHER PACKETT I already did.

Her answers seems to calm him down. Mrs. Packett takes the Colonel’s knife and fork and cuts him off a piece of meat.

MOTHER PACKETT Here. Eat some roast.

The Colonel opens his mouth. Mother Packett inserts the meat into his mouth..

SHERIFF PACKETT (to Lucy)

You got Mace's plate ready? LUCY In the kitchen. Packett take a bite of roast.

LUCY (to Polly)

Eat your greens, young lady. Polly doesn’t seem too happy about it but she obeys her mother without complaint.

INT. PACKETT’S BEDROOM - LATER

Sheriff Packett and Lucy are climbing into a big, downy, double bed. After she gets under the covers, Lucy reaches over and turns off the kerosene lamp.

SHERIFF PACKETT

(in the dark) Dinner was good tonight.

LUCY Thank you.

In the dark, we can see the Sheriff's outline as he moves closer to Lucy.

He gives her a peck on the cheek and then moves back to his side of the bed as close to the edge as possible. He turns on his side, his back to her.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Good night.

Lucy also moves as close to the edge as possible on her side of the bed.

LUCY

(her back to him)

Good night.

INT. BAPTIST CHURCH - MORNING

Sheriff Packett, Lucy, and Polly are standing with the rest of the congregation singing a HYMN. It's a good turnout as most of the pews are full. The Packett family is in the middle row, about halfway back.

Sheriff Packett, sharing a hymnal with Lucy, isn't singing. He just stares at the hymnal as Lucy, Polly, and the congregation sing the HYMN.

CUT TO:

EXT. BARELY VISIBLE TRAIL - DAY

Levi’s wagon, now with both Levi and Dan in the front, is making its way along rocky, barely seen wagon ruts. Rowdy is sitting up in the back, intensely watching behind them.

They are climbing steadily upwards into the mountains. An alpine forest is scattered below them. In the distance beyond that is the valley that they just rode out of.

Rain clouds have gathered over their heads. A bolt of lightning is seen, causing it to THUNDER almost immediately.

DAN (to Rowdy) See anything?

ROWDY Not yet.

LEVI

Where we goin?

DAN

You ain’t goin’ nowhere. When we get up over that ridge up yonder, we’re gonna cut you loose. We’ll take your horses.

LEVI You’re gonna leave me here?

DAN

When that posse gets here, they’ll take you home. You’ll be fine.

LEVI

And if they don’t come?

Dan and Rowdy look at each other and LAUGH.

DAN They’ll be comin.

Suddenly a huge downpour erupts. It’s raining hard. Within seconds, the ground is turning into mud. The horses begin losing their footing.

DAN

We gotta get over that ridge and off this hill!! Too easy for the posse to see us here!!

The horses are trying but the more it rains, the slipperier it gets.

CUT TO:

INT. BABTIST CHURCH - CONTINUED

We are back at the Sunday morning service with Sheriff Packett's family. They are still standing and singing, but now it's a different HYMN.

The hymn ends and the congregation remains standing.

PREACHER

Let's bow our heads in closing prayer.

The congregation, including Sheriff Packett, bow their heads in prayer.

PREACHER

Help us to be humble in your sight, O Lord. For with pride, comes disgrace. But with humility, comes wisdom.

The crookedness of the treacherous has the power to destroy us. But your righteousness, O Lord, shows us the way. Help us to seek Your Word in all that we do. In Jesus' name, Amen.

CONGREGATION

Amen.

As the congregation starts to shuffle out, Sheriff Packett looks around. Certain that no one is watching, he leaves his Bible on the seat of the pew and walks towards the door with the rest of his family.

EXT. BABTIST CHURCH - MOMENTS LATER

It’s a beautiful morning as Sheriff Packett, Lucy, and Polly walk down the street towards home.

The church, and the congregation coming out of it, can be seen behind them in the background.

Sheriff Packett stops and looks at Lucy.

SHERIFF PACKETT

You know what? I left my Bible in the pew.

Lucy and Polly stop walking and look at him.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Y’all go

ahead.

Lemme go grab it and I’ll catch up.

Lucy gives a nod of consent. She and Polly hold hands and start walking down the street towards home while Sheriff Packett turns around and goes back to the church.

He walks towards the Preacher, who’s still greeting townspeople as they file out.

As soon as they see the sheriff, a handful of them make their way past the Preacher and up to Sheriff Packett. They all start talking to him, almost all at once, rattling off questions faster than he can answer.

TOWNSPERSON #1 Are you ready for the ceremony?

SHERIFF PACKETT Well, I hope so.

TOWNSPERSON #2

You think you’ll beat Ed Purdee in the election?

SHERIFF PACKETT

I’ll let the good people of Buffalo Spri--I mean Packett City--

Everybody LAUGHS at the Sheriff’s goof.

SHERIFF PACKETT

I’ll let the good people of Packett City decide who they want for their next sheriff.

TOWNSPERSON #3 How's the Colonel?

SHERIFF PACKETT He’s fine, as honory as ever.

TOWNSPERSON #4 How does it feel to have the whole town named after you, Sheriff?

CLOSE UP on Packett. He smiles. CUT TO:

EXT. MOUNTAIN RIDGE - CONTINUED

It's raining hard as Levi's wagon tries to make it to the top of the ridge.

Dan and Rowdy are now in front of the horses, each pulling a separate horse's bridle to try and get the wagon up the slippery slope. Levi is still seated in the wagon, slapping the horses with the reins.

They're making progress but it’s a struggle.

ROWDY (yelling over the rain) Maybe we should leave the wagon here!

DAN (also yelling) We can make it! It ain't much further!

Finally they make it to the top of the ridge but now there’s another problem. The top of the ridge isn’t as wide as it looked, and it’s steep on the other side.

The wheels of the wagon start sliding down the steep hill. It becomes clear that it’s going to take the horses with it.

DAN (to Levi) Jump!!

Too late.

Dan and Rowdy watch as Levi, the wagon, and the horses start tumbling down the rain-soaked hill in one tangled mess all the way to the bottom--about 50 feet from the top of the ridge where Dan and Rowdy are standing.

Dan and Rowdy half run, half slide down the hill to what’s left of the wagon. Levi is submerged under broken pieces of wood and twisted metal. Dan and Rowdy drag him out from under it. It’s clear that he’s seriously injured.

DAN

(to Rowdy)

You tend to him. I’ll see to the horses.

Dan walks over to the other side of the wagon and sees one horse standing up and the other horse on the ground. They are both tangled in the lines and trying desperately to free themselves. Dan goes up to the one on the ground first. He pulls out his knife and leans down next to the horse. He cuts one of the lines and before he can catch it, the horse gets up and runs off.

Dan goes over to the other horse that’s standing up. Holding the bridle firmly with one hand, he cuts the lines with the other, freeing the horse.

This one also tries to run away but Dan’s got a firm hold on him.

He calms the animal down and leads him to a nearby tree where he carefully ties him off.

Once the horse is tied up, Dan walks back over to the demolished wagon. He crawls under it.

Whatever is under there, he must want pretty bad because he’s having to work hard to get under the wagon to get it.

He finally crawls back out, dragging the saddlebag behind him. He’s very muddy because it’s still raining hard.

He gets up and goes and sets the saddlebag under the same tree the horse is tied to.

He walks over to where Rowdy is kneeling over Levi.

DAN

Well, we got one good horse. The other’n got away from me.

Dan kneels down next to Rowdy and looks at Levi.

DAN How’s he doin?

ROWDY

He’s hurt bad, Dan.

Levi has blood coming out of his mouth and the front of his shirt is covered in blood. Dan lifts up his shirt and Levi grimaces, racks of pain shooting through him. Finally he relaxes as the pain subsides. He closes his eyes.

ROWDY Is he dead?

Dan puts his hand close to Levi’s mouth.

DAN

No, he’s still breathing. He passed out. C’mon. Let’s drag him over to them trees, outta the rain better.

They drag Levi’s wet body about 20 feet under some trees and although they’re still getting rained on, it is markedly dryer than where they were.

ROWDY

What’re we gonna do, Dan?

DAN

Hold on, lemme think.

He looks down at Levi, who is breathing but unconscious. Dan looks up at the sky and then up at the ridge where they just came from.

He lets out a heavy sigh.

DAN

We gotta kill him.

ROWDY

Kill him? DAN It’s the only way.

ROWDY

Shoot him? DAN Yeah. Then bury him.

ROWDY What? Are you crazy?

DAN Then WHAT!!?? What do we do? ROWDY

We’ll take him back into town.

DAN

With a posse looking for us?

ROWDY

Okay, then leave him here and the posse’ll find him.

DAN

They’ll find him, all right. The buzzards’ll lead’em right to him. And then right to us.

ROWDY

Shootin a gun’ll bring’em to us too.

DAN

We’ll dig the hole before we shoot him. That’s our only chance since we only got the one horse. C’mon, let’s see what we can salvage from the wagon.

Levi suddenly takes in a violent GULP of air.

They look down at him. Still unconscious, more blood streams out of his mouth.

ROWDY Is he...

Dan puts his hand close to Levi's mouth.

DAN

No, he's still breathing.

ROWDY (with dread) Kill him now, Dan. While he's passed out. Get it over with.

DAN

We gotta dig the grave first. C'mon.

EXT. RAVINE - LATER

It’s still raining but not as hard as it was before.

Dan and Rowdy are digging a large hole in the ground. Sweat is pouring off of them as Rowdy wields a pick and Dan is shoveling the loose dirt out.

In the background behind them can be seen the demolished wagon and the horse tied up. Also seen is Levi lying under the tree they dragged him under. Rowdy stops a second. He leans on his pick trying to catch his breath.

ROWDY

(out of breath)

Why don’t we just high-tail it outta here. Right now. Let’s just get on the horse and go. He’s probably dead by now anyway.

Dan shakes his head no.

DAN (also out of breath)

If we can keep the buzzards away, it’ll buy us a couple a days. C’mon. Keep digging. Deeper.

Dan hands Rowdy the shovel and takes the pick from him. He attacks the dirt which Rowdy then shovels out.

EXT. RAVINE - LATER

It’s stopped raining and the sun is peeking through the clouds.

Dan and Rowdy are looking down at Levi lying under the tree.

ROWDY

He don’t look good. Is he dead?

Suddenly Levi opens his eyes.

LEVI

I ain’t dead.

Levi struggles to get the words out but he is lucid.

LEVI

(grimacing in pain)

I heard every word you said earlier.

DAN (unmoved)

Well then, you know

what’s gotta be done.

Dan takes his revolver out of his holster.

ROWDY (pleading to Dan)

At least leave it up to him if he wants to chance it that the posse’ll find him.

DAN

(determined) Rowdy, he ain’t got no say in it!! Them buzzards’ll kill him before the posse ever finds him. And if they don’t, the wolves will!! That is if he don’t bleed to death first! Look at him! He’s sufferin’! We’re doin’ him a favor! (to Levi) You ready? LEVI Can I pray first? DAN Go right ahead. Make it fast though. We gotta get goin.

LEVI (praying)

Lord, please forgive these men for what they’ve done, and for what they’re about to do. And please look after my Abigail. Amen.

DAN

One thing more I wanna say. I’m sorry it ended this way. Looks like your wife kept her promise, since we ain’t seen hide nor hair of that posse yet. I wish I coulda kept my end of the deal and returned you safe. But it wasn’t in the cards. You ready?

Levi looks up past Dan and into the sky. He smiles and nods yes. A tear rolls from his eye down the side of his face.

Suddenly Dan hits Levi in the head with the butt of his revolver. Hard. Levi’s out cold. Dan holsters his gun and pulls out his knife.

ROWDY (confused)

I thought you was gonna kill him.

DAN

I am. We can’t risk no shots being heard. Dan, gripping his knife, kneels down in front of Levi. DISSOLVE TO:

A couple of buzzards circling in the sky. They are silhouetted by the sun behind them.

CUT TO:

Levi dead in his newly dug grave. He is half covered with dirt as Rowdy and Dan toss dirt into the grave--Rowdy with the shovel and Dan with his hands.

Dan looks down. The front of his shirt is covered in blood as are his hands and arms up to his elbows. He picks up some dirt and tries to wipe the blood off his hands with it.

Rowdy continues shoveling. Dan reaches down and picks up more dirt, still trying to wipe the blood off his hands.

Rowdy stops and watches his peculiar behavior.

DAN

He was a braver man than I woulda been, in similar circumstances.

Rowdy, out of breath, takes off his hat and wipes his brow with his sleeve. As he does so, he looks up towards the sun.

ROWDY

Dan, look!!

Rowdy points up towards the sky. Dan looks up.

They see the buzzards for the first time.

Dan runs over and jumps on the horse. Rowdy continues shoveling dirt onto Levi as fast as he can.

Dan rides up to him.

DAN It's too late!! Let's go!!

He grabs Rowdy’s arm and pulls him up behind him onto the horse. They look up into the sky. Now there are a couple more buzzards.

They take off just as fast as the horse will carry them.

CUT TO:

The buzzards flying around in the sky. The camera follows one of them as it flies down onto the dirt over Levi. Another buzzard soon joins it.

The camera PULLS BACK up over the ridge and PANS down into the valley on the other side.

Far off into the distance, a posse of about ten men can be seen riding straight towards the camera.

CUT TO:

EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF BUFFALO SPRINGS - DAY

LONG SHOT of the town as we see the train pull out again.

And once again we see the lonely rider sitting on his horse as he watches the train escape the confines of the town.

CUT TO:

EXT. LOG CABIN - DAY

The small cabin is at the end of a box canyon. On all sides except the front of the cabin, steep cliffs tower over it.

PAN UP TO REVEAL:

Dan and Rowdy on top of the cliff behind the cabin. They are on their stomachs peeking over the edge of the cliff at the cabin below.

As they look down, they see that the cabin has smoke coming out of the chimney.

Not far from the cabin is a small, crudely made corral with three horses in it.

ROWDY

Never seen that black mare.

DAN

It's probably Bud or Lon's. I recognize Val's horse.

Dan takes out his revolver and fires it in the air. He then turns around, laying on his back.

One man, carrying his pistol, comes out of the cabin.

This is BUD BALLARD. He's a big, handsome, strapping youth in his early 20's. Peering past the corner of the cabin, he looks up, trying to locate whoever fired the shot.

DAN (yelling up at the sky)

Lon, is that you!?

BUD (yelling)

It's Bud. Who're you?

DAN

It's Dan and Rowdy! Go fetch Val!

BUD

Dan, you scared us! Hold on!!

Bud goes back in the cabin as Dan and Rowdy sit up. Another man, VAL, also with his pistol out, comes out of the cabin with Bud.

TOM VALENTINE (nicknamed Val) has straight black hair, not long, and with a touch of grey. He has very intense, almost maniacal blue eyes.

VAL (also yelling) Is that you, Dan?

Dan and Rowdy stand up so Val can see them.

DAN

Yeah! Why the hell ain’t you got a lookout, Val?

VAL

What're you doin' way up there?

DAN Well?

VAL Well what?

DAN Why ain’t you gotta lookout?

VAL

This is Browers Canyon, Dan. We don’t need a lookout.

You know that. Ain’t no lawman gonna come in here. You comin down?

DAN

We got a posse after us.

VAL

All the way from Utah?

DAN Yeah. Roust everybody out. Meet us at the Circle. Hurry up!!

And with that, Val and Bud rush back inside as Dan and Rowdy look down at them from the edge of the cliff 100 feet above.

EXT. NARROW ROCKY PATH - DAY

Val, carrying a rifle, is walking all alone along the narrow path as it works its way up a mountain.

We see that Val has a limp and that he isn't wearing cowboy boots. They're boots but they're specially made in which one heel is six inches higher than the other.

Because the fact is: Val has a club foot.

Val continues along the path until it opens up and dead ends into a large circle. Anyone riding up the path and into the circle has no choice but to turn around and go back down the same way they came.

Val looks up and waves.

Only now do we see Dan, Rowdy, and Bud strategically hidden at different spots about 30 feet above the circle. They give the signal and wave back.

Val goes back down the narrow path a little ways and hides behind a boulder.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. NARROW ROCKY PATH - LATER

About ten riders are traveling up the path, almost riding single file because it’s so narrow. They get to where it opens up into the circle and dead ends. They stop, baffled.

But they don’t have long to be baffled because within seconds a barrage of GUNFIRE from above is raining down on them. One man falls off his horse, shot dead.

Another man is hit in the stomach. They turn to go back the same way they came.

But they can’t go back because Val and Bud are blocking their path. They’ve both got their rifles pointed at the men on the horses.

(yelling at the top of his lungs)

One of the posse aims his sixshooter at Val. Val shoots him off his horse, quickly works the lever on his Winchester and points it at the next brave soul ready to do battle.

There are no takers. The possie stops dead in its tracks.

By this time the rest of the gang, rifles in tow, has scampered down onto the path.

They have the posse surrounded with the drop on them.

VAL

Throw down your guns!...NOW!!!

The posse tosses their weapons onto the ground.

VAL

ALL OF THEM!!!

The posse takes out their rifles and revolvers that were scabbarded and holstered and also throws them on the ground. Val gives a look to Bud.

Bud sets his rifle down and goes and starts collecting the various firearms laying on the ground. He starts putting them in a pile in a ditch a few feet off the path.

VAL

You boys are out of your jurisdiction.

This is Wyoming, not Utah.

POSSE LEADER

I’m a U.S. Marshall out of Salt Lake, Lieutenant Cavanaugh. These are my deputies. The good people of Utah don’t like you coming into our state and robbing our banks.

LIEUTENANT CAVANAUGH has big, bushy, porkchop sideburns and a patch over one eye.

LIEUTENANT CAVANAUGH

We found the farmer you killed. Or what was left of him after the buzzards got him.

DAN

That weren't our doin. He was in the wagon when it tumbled down the hill and killed him.

The posse all turn and look at Dan who is behind them.

DAN

We tried to bury him before the buzzards found him.

LIEUTENANT

CAVANAUGH (to Dan) Maybe so, but you did kidnap him, right? And steal his wagon?

VAL

That’s neither here nor there. You boys need to go back where you come from. And I mean now. And if we ever see you up in these parts again, we’ll shoot on sight. And take no prisoners. Understand?

LIEUTENANT CAVANAUGH

We understand.

VAL

You can pick up your wounded and your dead first. Now get goin!!

LIEUTENANT CAVANAUGH

We’re going. But before we do, I think you should know something. The governor of the blessed state of Utah has put a ten thousand dollar price on your head, Tom Valentine, for anybody that brings you in dead or alive. And that goes for anybody in your gang too.

Lieutenant Cavanaugh looks around at the rest of the gang, making note of every face for future reference.

The Lieutenant notices that actually there are TWO Bud Ballards.

LIEUTENANT CAVANAUGH

Well I'll be. Twins. That'll make it even easier to identify you. And just so you know, it’ll probably be more than ten thousand dollars reward money after what you did to that poor farmer and some of my men here.

VAL You know my name?

LIEUTENANT CAVANAUGH Unfortunately I do. You’re the famous paid assassin for the Wyoming Cattle Association.

(He looks at the rest of Dan’s gang) And that’s the rest of your gang of cohorts called the Green River Boys. And now that I’ve got your faces fixed in my head...

Lieutenant Cavanaugh once again looks around at each outlaw.

LIEUTENANT CAVANAUGH

You can be assured that your likeness will be tacked up on the wall of every general mercantile from Salt Lake to St. George. So, gentlemen,

if I were you, I would think twice before coming back to Utah to rob our banks or our trains and murder our lawabiding citizens.

Do YOU understand?

VAL You got our faces stuck in your head, too?

LIEUTENANT CAVANAUGH That is a fact, Sir.

VAL Well, I’m sorry, Lieutenant, but

that’s just not a place we care to be stuck in.

Val quickly gets his Winchester into firing position and shoots Lieutenant Cavanaugh off his horse.

The POSSE MEMBER next to Cavanaugh jumps off his horse to tend to Cavanaugh.

POSSE MEMBER

He’s dead! You murderin’ son of a...

Val quickly works the lever on his Winchester and points it at the posse member.

VAL

Just try me, son! I’ll give you what he got!!

The posse member freezes, unwilling to try him.

VAL

Now get’im on his horse and GIT!! ALL A YOU!! AND DON’T COME BACK!!!

Without another word said, the posse quickly secures the dead bodies on their mounts and rides away, Val stepping aside to let them go back down the way they came.

VAL

Let’s go.

Val limps back to the circle that dead ends, the rest of the gang following him. He goes behind a big boulder and seems to disappear. The rest of the gang follows him and they also seem to disappear.

CUT TO:

Rowdy, who is the last outlaw behind the rest of them.

The camera follows behind Rowdy as he also goes behind the big boulder.

Only then do we see the outlaws all walking through a narrow gap that Mother Nature has hidden from the view of anybody in the circle who doesn't know it's there.

The camera follows them as they walk through the narrow gap, about 30 feet long, until it opens up into a trail—a trail about twice as wide as it was on the other side of the hidden gap.

The gang comes out of the gap and about 50 feet ahead, we see their horses tied off.

DAN (as they’re walking to their horses)

Rowdy, Lon: Follow them. Make sure they don’t double back.

Bud, grab their guns and bring’em up to the cabin.

BUD

Lon, you get the guns. I'm going with Rowdy.

The Lieutenant was right. Bud is talking to the spitting image of himself, his identical twin, LON BALLARD.

LON Dan told you to do it!!

BUD (to Rowdy) Let's go.

Bud and Rowdy get on their horses and take off back through the hidden gap.

LON GET BACK HERE YOU...

(to Dan) I can’t carry all them guns myself!!

DAN

Then you’ll have to make several trips, won't you? Now git goin!!

Lon, mumbling to himself, gets on his horse and rides back through the gap, following Rowdy and his brother.

Dan and Val mount their horses.

DAN (angry)

Why'd you have to shoot him, Val?

VAL

I'm sorry, Dan. Did I do wrong?

DAN

Every dirt farmer and bank teller in Utah will be lookin for us now.

VAL

I didn't like what he was sayin about our faces bein stuck in his head!!

DAN We'll talk about it at the cabin.

They take off on their horses in the opposite direction that the other three went.

INT. SMALL CABIN - NIGHT

The furnishings are very sparse. Rowdy and Val are sitting at the only table in the room. On the floor next to Rowdy is the pile of weapons that they took off the posse.

Rowdy is picking up one at a time and inspecting them.

Val, seated across from him, is looking at a newspaper. There's a bottle of whiskey on the table that one or the other is occasionally taking a swig of.

Dan is sitting in a chair in the corner, deep in thought.

Bud (or Lon--we can’t tell which) is pacing the room with a bottle in one hand that he’s frequently pulling on. In his other hand is a bull whip wrapped loosely around his hand.

As he paces, he takes a pull and then THOP!!...he hits the whip against his thigh. For a while, that’s all we hear as he paces and drinks: THOP!!.....THOP!!!........THOP! VAL Will you shut up with that whip!?

Dan’s trying to think!

ROWDY

Read it again, Val.

Val finds where to read with his finger.

VAL (reading the headline)

6TH CAVALRY ORDERED INTO JOHNSON COUNTY

As Val reads he follows along with his finger. His reading is slow, like a 2nd grader struggling to sound out the words.

VAL (reading)

The 6th U.S. Cavalry has been ordered into action after a group of cattlemen were surr...surr...

Agitated, Dan gets up and goes over and snatches the paper out of Val's hand. Standing next to Val, he finds the article Val was trying to read. He's a much faster and more accomplished reader than Val.

DAN (reading)

The 6th U.S. Cavalry has been ordered into action after a group of cattlemen were surrounded at a small ranch by Sheriff “Red” Angus. Angus, leader of a posse of more than 200 men, told this reporter that the cattlemen have hired gunslingers from Texas, as well as locals Tom Valentine and ‘Lucky’ Bob Bingham--both known

killers hired by the wealthy--

VAL (outraged)

Known killers...we’re range detectives!

Dan looks back down at the paper and continues.

DAN

(reading)

...Tom Valentine and ‘Lucky’ Bob Bingham-both known killers hired by the wealthy cattle barons to murder and intimidate the small ranchers. Governor Barber, in a statement made yesterday, said “With the help of the cavalry and the largest posse

ever assembled, we will stop this onslaught of horrific violence once and for all."

Dan slams the paper down onto the table.

DAN

Well, you did it, Val. You got the whole damn state out after us.

He grabs the bottle of whiskey sitting there and takes it back to his chair in the corner. He sits down and takes a long pull on the bottle of whiskey.

Bud is still drinking from his own bottle and pacing faster than ever.

BUD

DAN

Weren't you listening? A posse of TWO HUNDRED!! Yeah, we can take on a posse of ten that don’t know the territory but a posse of two hundred? AND the damn cavalry!?

VAL

Go relieve your brother.

BUD

This is the best damn hideout in the territory. You said yourself we don’t need no lookout.

VAL

That was before Dan got here. NOW GO!!

Val stands up and puts his hand on his gun. He means business. Without another word, Bud leaves the cabin.

VAL (sitting back down)

So what do we do, Dan?

ROWDY (trying to persuade Dan)

Why don’t we just go to Colorado? Or...or better yet, California!

DAN

Naw, I’m sick of killing farmers and I’m sick of being chased by posses.

Dan takes a big pull on his bottle of whiskey. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. Then for seemingly no reason at all, he gets a big smile on his face.

VAL

What, Dan. You think of somethin?

DAN

I know where we’re goin.

VAL Where?

DAN Texas. ROWDY What's in Texas?

DAN What would you say to the biggest score you ever saw? So big, it could be our last. ROWDY Where in Texas?

DAN Buffalo Springs.

VAL

You crazy? You know who’s sheriff in Buffalo Springs? Honest John Packet. He’ll track us to hell and back before he lets us rob his town.

CLOSE UP ON DAN

DAN

(grinning)

Naw. I know how we dispose of Honest John Packett.

EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY

In the middle of the street is a crude stage made out of green lumber. Above it is a banner that says:

BUFFALO SPRINGS

Seated on the stage is Sheriff Packett, wearing his Sunday Best. Also seated on the stage is the Sheriff's father. The Colonel is wearing his confederate uniform with his shiny medals proudly displayed on his chest.

There’s also a man, SENATOR PHINEAS T. BURNWOOD standing at the front of the stage. He’s 50-ish, rotund, balding, and sporting a bow tie around a very stiff collar.

He’s giving a SPEECH.

Most of the town seems to have turned out, everyone from 8 to 80 standing in the street listening to Burnwood speechify.

BURNWOOD

During and after the War Between the States, the name “Buffalo Springs” has been a synonym for outlawry of every description.

While the Senator talks, the camera slowly pans across the audience in the street.

BURNWOOD (O.S.)

But today, this thriving metropolis is a town of peace and order, good homes, good schools, and churches.

The camera--still panning across the good citizens in the street--stops on Dan, blending in with the crowd.

BURNWOOD

This transformation has been accomplished by the efforts of two men, father and son. And it is because of these two men that today we rechristen Buffalo Springs...

The Senator pulls down the banner that says “Buffalo Springs” to reveal another banner behind it that says:

BURNWOOD

...PACKETT CITY!!

The crowd erupts into APPLAUSE. Burnwood waits for the applause to subside.

BURNWOOD

These two men, father and son, are both of stout heart and noble purpose.

The first is the venerable war hero and sheriff of Buffalo Springs for over 20 years: Colonel Frances R. Packett!

The crowd once again erupts into APPLAUSE.

Watching the Colonel’s reaction, it’s hard to say whether he grasps what’s going on.

BURNWOOD

And the second man, of course, is the Colonel’s son, that brave and fearless lawman, intrepid tracker, known throughout the West, I give you your very own...HONEST JOHN PACKETT!!

The crowd erupts into even louder APPLAUSE.

BURNWOOD (over the crowd noise)

And be sure, good folks, on Election Day next month, be sure and cast your vote for Texas’ favorite son: HONEST

JOHN PACKETT!! Come say a few words, Sheriff.

Sheriff Packett stands up and goes to the front of the stage next to Burnwood. They wait for the CROWD noise to subside.

SHERIFF

PACKETT

Thank you, Senator. I don’t have much to say but I do need to tell you, I've been honored to serve as your sheriff

these last two years and I hope on Election Day, you'll extend to me the honor of--

Sheriff Packett stops himself when he sees Dan in the crowd. He looks at Dan, wondering if his eyes are playing tricks on him. Dan knows he’s been spotted. They lock eyes.

Trading CLOSE-UPS, the two gunslingers stare each other down and size each other up—each waiting to see what the other is going to do.

But then the biggest smile you ever saw comes over Sheriff Packett’s face.

SHERIFF PACKETT (elated)

Dan!!

CUT TO:

INT. PACKETT DINING ROOM - DUSK

The Packett family, just like before, eating dinner. Only now, Dan is sitting at the dinner table eating with them.

They eat in SILENCE for a few moments.

DAN (out of the blue) I wanna show you somethin!

Dan quickly gets up and leaves the table, going into another room. The rest of the family look at each other uneasily.

COLONEL Peas.

Mother Packett scoops some peas onto the Colonel’s spoon and shovels them into his mouth.

Dan returns with a small paperback book. He sits back down and hands it to Packett.

DAN Lookee here!

INSERT...

...of the book. On the cover is written:

WESTERN DIME NOVELS

THE DARING ESCAPADES OF LAWMAN HONEST JOHN PACKETT

It shows a pictured drawing of Sheriff Packett which doesn't really resemble him.

His horse's reins in one hand, he's kneeling down studying the ground to determine the path of a dangerous outlaw.

Sheriff Packett thumbs threw it, fascinated.

DAN Famous lawman getting books written about him, getting towns named after him. You done good, Brother!

POLLY Lemme see!!

LUCY Young Lady, where are your manners?

POLLY (admonished) Can I see it?

LUCY

May I see it.

POLLY May I see it?

Sheriff Packett hands it to Polly, who gazes at the cover in wonder. Lucy takes it from her and sets it aside.

LUCY

You can look at it after you’re through eating. They all start eating again.

LUCY So when was the last time you were in these parts, Dan?

COLONEL

Not since he stole that horse. Lemonade.

DAN

I never stole that horse, Colonel.

You accused me of something I never did.

PACKETT

Daddy, they proved Dan didn’t steal that horse.

COLONEL

He stole the second one!

DAN

That’s cause you threw me in jail! When I broke out, I figured I already been accused of it, so I might as well do it.

He sops up some gravy with a biscuit.

DAN Never looked back.

They eat in silence for a few moments, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.

LUCY

So how come y’all ain’t got the same last name? You had different mothers, but the Colonel is father to you both, right?

DAN

I didn’t want his name.

COLONEL No good, never was.

DAN (laughing) I can't deny that.

MOTHER PACKETT

That’s enough, Mr. Packett.

DAN Mama, let it go.

MOTHER PACKETT (to

Lucy)

Mather is my maiden name. COLONEL Bread.

INT. POLLY’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Polly is fast asleep with her lantern on. The western dime novel is laying open, next to her head. Also laying next to her in bed is a big yellow penny pencil.

Sheriff Packett comes in the room and slowly but carefully takes the book, trying hard not to wake her, which he is successful at. He also picks up the big yellow pencil next to her and sets it on her bedside table.

He looks at the book and smiles.

INSERT...

...of the cover of the book in Packett's hand. In crude, child-like capital letters, Polly has written MY DADDY above the picture of Sheriff Packett. He turns off her lamp on the table and taking the book with him, leaves the room. He quietly closes her door.

EXT. PACKETT FRONT PORCHMOMENTS LATER

Dan is sitting in a rocking chair rolling a cigarette. Sheriff Packett comes out onto the porch carrying the book he took from Polly. He has a seat in the empty rocking chair next to Dan, engaged in rolling his smoke.

DAN (without looking up)

Want one?

SHERIFF PACKETT

I got my pipe.

Dan finishes rolling the cigarette and lights it.

SHERIFF PACKETT So did you read it?

Packett indicates the book by holding it up.

DAN Oh, yeah.

SHERIFF PACKETT (thumbing through it)

Any good?

DAN

It ain’t bad. You read it and tell me if any of it’s true.

SHERIFF PACKETT I will.

Sheriff Packett puts the book down. Dan takes a long pull on his smoke and slowly exhales.

SHERIFF PACKETT

So what you been doing with yourself all these years, Brother?

DAN

You name it. I done it. Except wear a badge. I could never stomach that.

Dan looks at Packett.

DAN

But you sure took to it.

Dan picks up the book and looks at the cover.

DAN

You could make a killin. In any town in the west.

SHERIFF PACKETT (trying to convince himself)

I like it here.

Dan hands the book to Sheriff Packett.

DAN

Well, you’re definitely a big fish... (stretching back and yawning) ...in a little town.

Dan takes one last drag on his cigarette, tosses it down onto the porch, and stands up. He extinguishes the cigarette with his boot.

DAN

I’m gonna hit the hay. Gonna seem strange sleeping in my old bed again.

Sheriff Packett isn’t even paying attention. He’s started to read the book. Dan pulls out a small flask and taps Packett’s arm with it.

DAN

Here. 90 proof. This’ll make the book even better.

Packett takes the flask.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Thanks. DAN Well, good night.

He opens the screen door to go in the house.

SHERIFF PACKETT Dan?

Packett sets the book and the flask down, gets up and goes over to Dan. He gives Dan a big bear hug.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Glad you’re home, Little Brother.

Dan awkwardly but affectionately slaps Packett on the back.

DAN Missed you too, John. Well, good night.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Good night. Tomorrow I want you to tell me about some of the places you been. What they’re like and all.

DAN

It's a deal.

Dan goes in the house and Packett sits back down in his rocking chair.

He takes the top off the flask and smells it. He takes a swig and his reaction tells us it's strong stuff and that he's probably not used to it.

He puts the flask down, takes out his pipe and lights it. He picks up the book, settles in, and starts reading.

INT. PACKETT BEDROOM - MORNING

The sun is shining through the windows as Packett snores away in bed.

Lucy comes in carrying a broom and goes and shakes Packett.

LUCY John, wake up. It’s seven in the morning.

Sheriff Packett wakes up and GROANS.

LUCY (not happy)

Don’t you have to relieve Mace?

Sheriff Packett just GROANS again. Lucy pulls the empty flask out of a pocket in her apron and tosses it on the bed.

Packett sees the flask and pulls the covers up over his head.

LUCY

He got you drunk last night?

SHERIFF

PACKETT Where is he, is he up?

LUCY

He rode outta town, about an hour ago.

Sheriff Packett sits up, alarmed.

LUCY

He said he’d be back before supper.

Relieved, Packett lies back down.

LUCY

Don’t you think it’s time for you to get up?

SHERIFF PACKETT I am. Stop nagging me, Woman.

INSERT...

CUT TO:

...of somebody taking the bullets out of a six-shooter. The hand puts one bullet back in the cylinder, spins it, and with the flick of the wrist, expertly swings it shut.

EXT. RUN-DOWN SHACK - DAY

The land is sparse and flat with only a little vegetation and even fewer hills.

The shack, resting next to a dried up river bed, is small with holes in the roof. Between the shack and the river bed is one lone tree, dying for lack of water.

On the other side of the shack is a handful of horses, all tied up to a single pole sticking up out of the ground.

Dan comes riding up to the shack. As he gets closer, Rowdy comes out of the shack to meet him.

Dan pulls the reins up in front of the shack and gets off his horse.

ROWDY

It's Val. He's gone loco. He's over by that tree.

Dan hands the reins of his horse to Rowdy and walks towards the tree. As he walks by the front of the shack, Bud and Lon come out and watch as Dan goes over to the tree, about 50 yards away.

CUT TO:

EXT. LONE TREE - CONTINUOUS

Val, sitting under the tree, is holding his six-shooter. A handful of bullets are laying on the ground next to him. He puts the gun under his chin but then points it up to the sky.

He pulls the trigger.

DAN

Val?

The sound of Dan's voice startles Val. He stands up and points the gun at Dan.

Dan just stands there looking at him. Val holsters his gun.

VAL Sorry, Dan. Didn't know it was you.

DAN You all right?

Val turns his back to him.

DAN What's wrong? Val doesn't answer.

DAN What is it? You can tell me.

VAL What're we doin here, Dan?

There's plenty of other towns we could rob. Why here?

Dan walks up to him.

DAN

Come on. Let's do your foot.

INT. RUN-DOWN SHACK - MOMENTS LATER

The inside of the shack is even more run down then their cabin in Wyoming. There's not a stick of furniture and there is no floor. It's just dirt. Intense beams of sunlight find their way through various holes and cracks in the walls and ceiling.

Val is sitting on an upside down horse trough, Dan kneeling down at his feet. They are alone in the cabin, the other gang members nowhere to be seen.

Dan pulls off Val's boot with the 6-inch soul, the one his club foot is in.

Only, the fact is, Val doesn't have a club foot. The fact is, now we see he has no foot at all. A dirty piece of cloth, tied off with string, covers the bottom of Val's ankle and up over his shin.

DAN

It's my brother. That's what's eatin at ya, ain't it?

What if he makes you go...

What if he makes you go straight?

Dan unsheaths his knife and cuts the string that holds the dirty cloth on.

He pulls the old cloth off, throws it down, and pulls out a relatively clean piece of cloth from his pocket.

Once Dan gets the new cloth in place over Val's ankle and up his shin, Val reaches down and holds it in place, as if they've done this a hundred times.

VAL

You said yourself you were sick of outlawin.

While Val holds the cloth, Dan pulls out a piece of string from another pocket.

DAN

But that don't mean I'm sick of you, or the boys. We'll still be together.

We'll pitch in and buy a saloon in Mexico or somethin.

VAL

But Dan, I don't wanna go straight.

DAN

You won't have to! We'll figure it out. Stop worryin.

Dan takes the string and wraps it several times around the cloth covering Val's ankle. He ties it off in a knot and Val lets go of the cloth, now that it's held in place by the string. Dan picks up Val's boot and looks inside of it.

DAN

How's your boot holdin up?

...of the inside of Val's boot. We see that the 6-inch soul also takes up the space inside the boot where the foot would go. The only empty space inside the boot is from the ankle up.

DAN Looks all right.

Dan hands the boot to Val.

DAN Put it on. See how it feels.

Val slips his boot on.

DAN

And one more thing: I ain't goin straight. Not yet. We're here for one thing: to rob a bank.

And lemme tell you another thing: He may be my brother by blood but he ain't my real brother. You are. So stop worryin on that account.

VAL

You're the only family I got. I ain't got a brother like you do.

Embarrassed, Val gets up and limps around on his boot.

DAN

I know that, Val. Come on outside. I wanna tell you and the boys my plan.

Val stops walking and looks at Dan.

VAL Dan?

DAN

What? VAL Boot feels good.

DAN

I'm glad.

VAL

Dan?

DAN What?

VAL Instead of a saloon...I'd like a gambling house. In Chicago or maybe New Orleans.

DAN

It's a deal. Come on outside.

Dan gets up and heads for the door. Val limps after him.

EXT. RUN-DOWN SHACK - CONTINUOUS

Dan and Val come out of the shack. Rowdy and the twins are waiting around in front of the shack for them to come out.

They all look at Val to see how he's doing.

ROWDY You okay, Val?

VAL What kinda stupid question is that? Dan was tellin me his plan. Everybody listen.

BUD

So when do we rob the bank, Dan?

THOP!!

Bud is hitting his leg with his rolled up whip again.

DAN

Lemme tell you my plan.

BUD

You said there was a bank in Texas that was easy pickins and full of money. So when do we rob it?

THOP!!

DAN

If you'll shut up and listen. Packett's gonna throw in with us.

They all just look at him.

DAN

Yeah, you heard me right.

BUD

That's your plan?

ROWDY

You sure about that?

DAN

He's my brother. And he's miserable here.

Bud starts pacing again.

THOP....THOP

BUD

Maybe he will and maybe he won't. Either way, Me and Lon, we're gonna do what we come all the way to Texas to do.

Val pulls out his gun and goes over to Bud. He points it at Bud point blank and pulls the hammer back.

VAL

You'll do whatever Dan tells you to do. Got that?

DAN

Val, put your gun up! What the hell's wrong with you!!

With the gun still pointed at Bud's head, Val pulls the trigger. CLICK

BUD (understandably flustered) He's crazy, Dan!!

DAN Val, quit horsin around and put your damn gun up!!

Val holsters his gun. DAN (to Bud) He knew it wasn't loaded, he's just trying to scare you.

BUD

He's gonna push me too far one of these days.

Val looks at him and starts to go for his gun again.

DAN

BOTH OF YOU, STOP!!

Val keeps his hand on his gun but he doesn't pull it out of the holster. He and Bud stare each other down until Bud storms off into the shack.

DAN Rowdy, go get my horse.

Rowdy walks over to where the horses are tied off.

DAN (to Lon) Your brother gonna be okay?

Lon spits some tobacco juice onto the ground.

LON

Reckon so. He gets riled pretty easy but then he usually calms down.

Rowdy, leading Dan's horse to him, hands Dan the reins. Dan gets on his horse.

DAN

Now, listen. I'll be back in a few days. With my brother. While I'm gone, Val's in charge.

DAN (to Val) Agreed? VAL Sure, Dan. You know me.

DAN (to Rowdy)

Agreed?

ROWDY

Agreed.

DAN (to Lon)

Agreed?

LON

I reckon. Dan, just one more thing. What if your brother don't throw in with us?

DAN

We'll rob the bank anyway.

Lon smiles. This is what he wanted to hear.

DAN Only we'll do it my way. No bloodshed! And Val, stop pointing your gun at the boys!

VAL

All right, Dan.

DAN

Promise me!

VAL

I promise.

DAN

Good.

Dan pulls on the rein and turns his horse.

DAN

See ya in a few days.

He spurs his horse and rides away. The rest of the gang goes back inside the shack.

INT. RUN-DOWN SHACK - CONTINUOUS Bud, sitting down against the back wall, watches them come in the shack.

VAL (to Bud) Relax, Sonny. I knew it wasn't loaded. See?

Val pulls out his gun and points it at the ceiling. He pulls the trigger and...

BOOM!!

The bullet goes through the ceiling--causing another intense beam of sunshine to come through onto the dirt floor of the dark, dingy shack.

Val, still holding his gun, commences to LAUGHING long and hard. He falls on the floor and doubles over, he's LAUGHING so hard.

BUD (to Lon) He's crazy.

INT. PACKETT LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

We hear loud, raucous LAUGHTER coming through the window from outside. Lucy and Mother Packett are knitting. The Colonel is fast asleep in his chair.

Lucy gets up and walks to the front door.

LUCY Lord, what a ruckus.

EXT. PACKETT FRONT PORCH -

CONTINUOUS

Lucy comes out onto the porch to find Sheriff Packett and Dan LAUGHING up a storm and drinking from a bottle of whiskey that they’re trading back and forth. Neither of them are feeling any pain.

LUCY

You two trying to wake up the whole town? It’s a quarter past ten!

SHERIFF PACKETT

Lucy, I ever tell you the time I burned the barn down?

Lucy doesn’t respond. She just stands there waiting to hear the story.

SHERIFF PACKETT

I was 16 so you... (to Dan) ...were what, nine?

DAN Yeah, nine or ten.

SHERIFF PACKETT (to Lucy)

Anyway, so the Colonel orders me to clean the barn and a

lantern fell on some hay and before I knew it, half the barn was in flames. So I run and get the Colonel, tell him the barn’s on fire, he gets the firewagon. Half the town comes and helps and we get the fire out. But the barn’s destroyed, nothin but ashes. Colonel’s just giving me what for down one side and up the other when out of the burned barn, Dan walks out and right towards us. (to Dan, laughing)

I’ll never forget that. DAN I’m sure it was a sight.

SHERIFF PACKETT

(to Lucy)

So Dan walks up to us, and what is he doing? Playing with a box of matches.

They both erupt into LAUGHTER. Dan hands the bottle to Packett and he takes a swig.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Well, when they saw Dan come out of the barn with a box of matches, everybody just shut up, not believing their eyes, their jaws on the ground. Funniest thing you ever saw.

He takes another swig and hands the bottle back to Dan.

SHERIFF PACKETT

And Colonel asks him ‘Did you start that fire?’ And Dan, very

nonchalant, says ‘Yeah, I started it.’ And Colonel, getting angrier by the second, asks ‘Why'd you do that?’ And Dan just shrugs and says ‘I just wanted to see it burn.’ Well, the Colonel didn’t know what to say to that.

DAN It was worth it just to see the look on his face.

LUCY

So who burned it down?

SHERIFF PACKETT I did! By accident! Dan had nothin to do with it!

DAN

I just saw that my big brother was in trouble so I took the blame, that’s all. Man, the whoopin’ he gave me. I couldn’t hardly walk for a week. But, like I said, it was worth it just to see his face when I come outta that barn.

SHERIFF PACKETT

I remember...how long did he lock you in the stable?

DAN Three days.

SHERIFF PACKETT

I remember sneakin food out to you.

LUCY

John Packett, you let your little brother take the blame for somethin you done?

SHERIFF PACKETT

I tried to tell the Colonel but he wouldn’t believe me!

Dan takes a swig off the bottle and hands it to Packett.

LUCY

You two coming to bed?

SHERIFF PACKETT

Oh, before I forget, I’m goin with Dan to visit some friends. I’ll be gone all day tomorrow and tomorrow night. We’ll be back the next day.

LUCY

Preacher Muehler's comin to dinner tomorrow night, don’t you remember?

SHERIFF PACKETT

Well, you’ll just have to do it without me.

LUCY John, I forbid it. What will the Preacher think?

SHERIFF PACKETT

Tell him the truth. Tell him I went outta town with my brother for a couple of days. And I’m not asking for permission. I’m telling you what we’re doing.

DAN

Oh dear.

LUCY

Don’t ‘oh dear’ me, Sir. You’ve given my husband a taste for whiskey. What else you plannin on givin him a taste for?

SHERIFF PACKETT

Calm down! I don’t see what’s so wrong about me spending some time with my brother that I haven’t seen in almost ten years.

LUCY

You haven’t even told me where you’re goin.

SHERIFF

PACKETT (to Dan) Yeah, where we goin?

They both look at Dan, waiting for him to answer.

DAN

It’s a surprise.

SHERIFF PACKETT (to Lucy)

It’s a surprise.

Not happy and shaking her head, Lucy goes back inside.

DAN

Don’t worry ‘bout her. Women ain’t happy unless they’re tellin some man what to do. Plenty more where she come from.

Dan takes the bottle out of Packett’s hand and puts the plug in it. He stands up.

DAN

She is right about one thing. Time for bed.

SHERIFF PACKETT Yep.

Sheriff Packett gets up and follows Dan into the house.

INT. PACKETT’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Sheriff Packett climbs into bed. He takes his customary position: all the way to the edge with his back to Lucy, which Lucy has already assumed.

INT. COLONEL’S BEDROOM - LATER

The Colonel and Mother Packett are asleep in bed. The clock on the wall above their heads says 2:20.

Dan comes in the room, fully dressed, and stands over the Colonel. He watches the Colonel sleep.

Mother Packett wakes up.

MOTHER PACKETT

Dan...

Dan puts his finger to his lips, gesturing for her to be quiet.

He quietly and slowly opens the night stand next to the Colonel and takes out a small box. He quietly and slowly closes the night stand drawer.

He motions for Mother Packett to follow him. Dan leaves the room. Mother Packett gets up and follows him.

INT. PACKETT HALLWAYCONTINUOUS

Mother Packett closes the bedroom door as her and Dan stand at the top of the stairs.

MOTHER PACKETT

Dan, what’re you doing?

DAN

Stealin the Colonel’s medals.

MOTHER PACKETT Why?

DAN

When will he miss them?

MOTHER PACKETT

He’s got some others stored away I can give him. He’ll never know the difference.

DAN (emphatic)

No, Ma! After I’m gone, you tell'im I took'em!

MOTHER PACKETT (disapproving) What’re you up to? DAN (more emphatic) Promise me!

MOTHER PACKETT

Dan, what are you up to?

DAN

Up to no good, Ma. As usual. Now promise me!!

MOTHER PACKETT

Okay, Dan. I don't understand. Why do you want to steal his medals?

Tears of distress well up in her eyes.

DAN (full of hate)

I'm doin it for him, Mama. I want him to rest easy knowin he was right. I'm a no good thief.

Mother Packett, tears in her eyes, takes off a necklace of a Cross she’s wearing. She puts it in Dan’s hands and then holds Dan’s hands tightly in her own.

COLONEL

(yelling from bedroom)

Mrs. Packett!! Where are you?

Mrs. Packett!!

Mother Packett wipes the tears from her eyes. She goes over and opens the bedroom door.

MOTHER PACKETT

I’m right here, Mr. Packett. Go back to sleep.

COLONEL

Was I dreamin? Somebody was in here just now!

MOTHER PACKETT

That was John. He wanted to know where the castor oil was. His stomach's dyspeptic. Now go back to sleep, I’ll be right there.

Mother Packett looks at Dan. Dan takes the necklace and puts it around his neck.

MOTHER PACKETT

(whispering)

Dan, promise me you’ll be careful.

DAN (also whispering)

I promise. And don't forget your promise! Good night, Ma.

Dan kisses Mother Packett on the forehead. She watches him walk down the stairs, taking the Colonel’s medals with him.

INT. PACKETT KITCHEN - MORNING

Sheriff Packett and Dan are sitting at the table eating breakfast. Lucy is standing over the stove cooking.

She brings a frying pan with some bacon over to the table and gives both men several strips.

LUCY

You still haven’t told me where you’re goin.

DAN (eating)

It’s a surprise, Lucy. I wanna surprise John.

SHERIFF PACKETT (also eating)

We’ll be back tomorrow and I’ll tell you all about it.

DAN

Don’t worry. I’ll take care of him.

Lucy pours them both some more coffee.

LUCY

That’s what I’m afraid of.

EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF PACKETT CITY - LATER

Dan and Sheriff Packett are both riding out of town at a nice, leisurely trot.

SHERIFF PACKETT

You know, I haven’t set foot outside this town in six years?

Sheriff Packett has a joy and happiness about him we’ve never seen.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Feels good to ride outta town, get away from it all!!

EXT. PLAINS OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE - SUNSET

They stop to watch the sun going down on their left.

One look at the sky and you understand why. The sky is scattered with clouds of the most beautiful pink and purple hues you’ve ever seen.

DAN

I’ll

tell you somethin, Brother. I’ve seen the Rocky Mountains, I’ve been to the big city, I’ve even seen an ocean. But the sunrises and sunsets in the Texas Panhandle are some of the most beautiful creations ever made by the hand of God. You’re a lucky man. You get to see this every day.

SHERIFF PACKETT

You’re the one who’s lucky. I envy you, Brother.

Dan gives Packett the most charming smile he can muster.

DAN

It’s all out there waitin. All you gotta do is have the guts to reach out and take it.

SHERIFF PACKETT

I don’t know that I got it in me.

DAN (smiling)

Just follow me. Do what I do.

Dan spurs his horse into a gallop. Packett follows him.

DAN

Well, c’mon, Big Brother. Let’s ride!!

Galloping side by side, enjoying each other’s company, they both WHOOP and HOLLER out of pure joy from just being alive.

SHERIFF

PACKETT (yelling over the galloping horses) Where we goin, anyway?

DAN (also yelling) Amarillo! I got a friend I want you to meet!

EXT. AMARILLO - DUSK

LONG SHOT of another town on the Texas plains that, like Packett City, is smack dab in the middle of nowhere. Two riders in silhouette ride into town.

They ride past a sign that says:

AMARILLO

CUT TO:

INT. SALOON - LATER

The saloon is nearly full. It’s a busy night.

Sheriff Packett and Dan are sitting in a corner. On their table is assorted drinking accoutrements: a shot glass each, a glass mug full of beer each, a full pitcher of beer, and a half-empty whiskey bottle.

They both have their hats on as they drink, Sheriff Packett’s is especially pulled down low.

SHERIFF PACKETT

You sure we won’t be noticed?

DAN

You’re the famous one. I sure as hell won’t be.

They both take pulls from their mug of beer and wipe the foam off their mouths.

DAN

Just don’t bring no attention to yourself.

Dan sets his beer down and picks up the bottle of whiskey. He pours both their shot glasses full.

DAN

Which reminds me. What did you think of the book?

SHERIFF PACKETT

Most of it never happened.

They both down their shots and chase it with a swig of beer.

SHERIFF PACKETT (slurring his words a little) Did you know my reputation is really only based on one thing?

DAN Yeah? What’s that?

SHERIFF PACKETT When I tracked down Bob Updike.

DAN How much did he get away with?

SHERIFF PACKETT

$20,000 dollars.

DAN

$20, 000 doll!!--no wonder you tracked him all the way to...?

SHERIFF PACKETT Arizona.

DAN Arizona. That’s right. And you brought him back to Buffalo Springs and hung him?

SHERIFF PACKETT Yep.

Sheriff Packett pours himself another whiskey.

SHERIFF PACKETT Can I confess something, Little Brother?

He brings the whiskey up to his mouth but changes his mind and sets it back down.

DAN

What?

SHERIFF PACKETT

I didn’t track Updike. I hired an injun to track him.

Dan looks at him. He can’t believe what he’s hearing.

DAN

You hired a tracker?

SHERIFF PACKETT

Remember that injun that was homesteading on Hood Creek that the Colonel arrested?

DAN Redbeard? Oh yeah, he was an honory cuss.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Well, he had a son. Calls himself Cherokee Pink. He tracked him for me.

Packett picks the shot glass back up and downs it.

SHERIFF PACKETT

I’ve never told that to anybody.

DAN

So you hired a tracker. So what. You still brought him in, didn’t you?

SHERIFF PACKETT

But people think I’m a great tracker!

DAN (suddenly yelling) MAE! GET OVER HERE!! (to Packett) I want you to meet a friend of mine.

MAE comes over to their table. She is pretty but she has a lot of mileage on her, beaten down by a hard life as was typical of some women in the Old West.

Dan grabs her arm and playfully pulls her down onto his lap. She doesn’t seem to mind.

DAN

Mae and I used to be business partners in Oklahoma. Ain't that right, Mae?

MAE We sure was.

DAN

Mae runs this establishment.

MAE I sure do.

DAN

Mae, I want you to meet my big brother, John. John, this is Mae.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Pleased to meet you.

DAN

My brother wants a good time. Is Sallie workin’ tonight?

MAE She sure is. She’s indisposed at the moment.

DAN

Okay. Well, bring her on over when she's ready.

MAE I sure will.

She plants a big wet one on Dan’s lips.

MAE

Nice to meet you, John.

Mae gets up and leaves.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Dan, I can’t do that. I’m married. It’s a sin.

DAN Who’s it gonna hurt? God ain’t gonna begrudge us a little fun.

SHERIFF PACKETT

What if somebody recognizes me? DAN

Only one who’s gonna see you with your hat off is Sallie. And she don’t know you from Adam. I done checked with Mae so don’t worry.

SHERIFF PACKETT

You done checked. When did you do that?

DAN

Can I make a confession to you? You made one to me. Now it’s my turn.

Dan pours them both another whiskey.

DAN

You wanna know what I really do? I rob banks and rustle cattle. Drink up.

Both of them, realizing this is a turning point in their relationship, drink their shot.

DAN

But I’m sick of it, John. I need a stake. One last score. I know a bank that's easy pickens.

Come in on it with me. We could walk right in, steal’em blind. More money than you ever saw in your life. After that we could travel the world. See all the places you been longin to see. Just you and me.

Dan watches Packett to see how he's reacting. He pours Packett another whiskey. Packett doesn't drink the whiskey but he doesn't protest either, which encourages Dan to keep talking.

DAN

And after we see the world, we could go to Chicago and buy a saloon mebbe. Or a casino in New Orleans. Anywhere, you name it. Live the good life.

SHERIFF PACKETT

And you have a bank in mind for this?

DAN

Yeah. Like stealin candy from a baby. And John, the best part is, nobody gets hurt. No bloodshed. In fact, you don’t even have to be in on the robbery.

SHERIFF

PACKETT There’s others involved?

DAN

First you gotta tell me if you’re in or not. What do you say, Big Brother? Come in with me.

Mae comes back and sits on Dan’s lap.

There’s another girl with her who sits in the chair next to Sheriff Packett, presumably SALLIE. She’s also pretty and about 10 years younger than Mae and not quite as chewed up. Not yet.

DAN

You must be Sallie. Hi. I'm Dan.

SALLIE

Hi Dan.

DAN

This here's my brother, John.

SALLIE

Hi John. You here for a good time?

Dan watches Packett intensely to see what his answer will be.

SHERIFF PACKETT

I reckon so.

SALLIE

Just follow me.

Sallie and Packett both stand up. Packett picks up his shot of whiskey and downs it. He slams the empty glass back onto the table.

PACKETT

(to Dan)

Lemme think about your offer.

SALLIE

You ready?

PACKETT

Lead the way.

Sallie walks towards some stairs leading up to the second floor. Packett follows her up the stairs, keeping his hat low to hide his face.

Dan, with Mae still on his lap, watches Packett go up the stairs, a big satisfying grin on his face.

DAN

Well, that went well.

MAE It sure did.

FADE

OUT

FADE IN

EXT. TEXAS PLAINS - DAY

The flat ground is very sparse with vegetation and just an occasional tree dotting the landscape.

Packett and Dan are ambling along on their horses, in no great hurry.

DAN

You think Lucy’ll be mad that you’re a day late getting home?

Packett thinks how to answer.

PACKETT

Probably. They both LAUGH.

DAN

So did you think about it? My proposition?

PACKETT

Only thing is...my daughter. But the good news is Lucy and Mace are sweet on each other.

DAN No foolin?

PACKETT Yeah. Nothing ever happened between them, I’m pretty sure. But they’re sweet on each other. They don’t think I know but I can tell.

DAN

Okay, so Mace becomes sheriff, marries Lucy, and your daughter’s taken care of.

PACKETT

Yeah, I was kinda thinkin along those same lines.

DAN

So it’s all settled. You’ll come in with us?

PACKETT

I don’t know yet, Dan. It’s tempting but I ain’t decided. Lemme ponder on it a while longer.

DAN

Well don’t take too long. That bank’s not gonna wait.

(looking up ahead)

There’s Packett City up yonder.

EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF PACKETT CITY - CONTINUOUS

Once again, we see a LONG SHOT of the town. Two riders, too far away to make out who (but presumably Packett and Dan) can be seen approaching the town, as small as ants.

Stay on the long shot as another rider emerges from the town galloping towards them. The rider pulls up when he gets to them. They presumably exchange a few words.

A few seconds later, all three riders suddenly approach the town, all three now at a full gallop.

CUT TO:

EXT. PACKETT CITY MAIN STREETMOMENTS LATER

Packett, Dan, and the third rider come galloping into town. They stop at the end of the street and dismount.

They tie up their horses at the hitching post in front of a dry goods store.

They look down the street towards the bank, which is about a hundred yards away.

The bank looks lifeless. In fact, the whole street is lifeless. Not a soul in sight.

The only movement at all is coming from a handful of horses that are tied up at a hitching post across the street from the bank.

PACKETT Sam, where’s Mace?

SAM, the third rider who came into town with them, is about 40, obese, and has a droopy mustache.

SAM He went in the bank yesterday.

Packett looks at him, confused.

PACKETT What do you mean yesterday?

SAM That’s when they robbed the bank. Mace went in and ain’t come out.

PACKETT

I don’t understand. Yesterday they went in to rob the bank and they’re still in there?

SAM

They said they were waiting for Dan. Who’s Dan?

CLOSE UP on Packett.

He looks at Dan, now even more confused.

PACKETT

Why would they be waitin for...

It dawns on Packett what bank Dan had in mind. Dan just looks at him.

PACKETT

So this is the bank that was easy pickens.

DAN

I’m gonna need your answer now, Brother. You coming in with us or not? (imploring) Come on, John. You know you want to.

PACKETT

You son of a...so that’s why you pulled me outta town.

Dan draws his gun and points it at Packett.

DAN

I’ll take you at your word, Brother. You tell me you’re in with us and I’ll put my gun away. But if you say you ain’t, then I’m gonna need you to drop your gun belt.

CUT TO:

INT. PACKETT CITY BANKMOMENTS LATER

Packett and Sam both come inside. Dan follows behind them with his gun pointed at their back.

Rowdy is standing by the window with his gun drawn. The rest of Dan’s gang is standing at various spots in the bank, ready to greet Dan, all with their guns out.

Val, nervous, walks up to Dan.

VAL Dan, now don't be mad. DAN

What the hell, Val?

VAL

We was gonna do what you said but then I got to thinkin.

Packett looks around the bank.

Mace is lying on the floor dead, the front of his shirt covered with blood.

VAL

We don't wanna let somebody new come in with us, do we?

How do we know we can trust him? Even if he is your brother?

Another body, an older man-presumably the teller, is also lying on the floor covered with blood and obviously dead.

DAN (very mad) He was gonna go in with us but you botched it!!

VAL Dan, don't get sore. We been here waitin for ya like school kids. We didn't have our way with the women, nothin! We didn't even tear up the town.

Cause we knew this was where you'd growed up and that's how you'd want it.

Not placated, Dan stares at Val.

DAN (to Val)

I told you to wait for me.

VAL (contrite)

I'm sorry, Dan. It was the twins. They got bored out there in that shack. (to Bud and Lon) Ain't that right?

LON Don't blame us.

DAN

You ruined EVERYTHING!!

Dan pushes Val hard. Val tries to keep his footing but can't.

He falls backwards flat on his butt.

They both look at each other, neither sure what just happened, or what is about to happen.

DAN (finally) Why can't you follow orders?

Still mad, Dan turns around and walks to the window next to where Rowdy is standing lookout.

DAN

Rowdy, go get my horse. It’s down the street a piece.

ROWDY

Sure, Dan.

Rowdy, his gun still drawn, leaves the bank.

Val picks himself up and goes quietly over to Dan, who just continues to look out the window.

VAL

You know what? You were right, I was wrong. Your brother can come in with us. Would you like that Dan? You hear me?

DAN It's too late!!

VAL

Well Dan, you don't know that.

DAN

Go ahead, ask him Val. Ask him if he wants to join our gang.

Val limps over to Packett, standing next to Lon, who has his gun on him.

VAL

What do you say, Sheriff? Would you like to ride with us?

PACKETT

I wouldn't give you the time of day except to watch you hang, you piece of scum. Are you the one who murdered my deputy?

Val pulls his gun out, points it at Packett, and pulls the hammer back. He's trembling with rage.

DAN

Val!! Put your gun away!!

Val points his gun to the right of Packett and FIRES. The bullet just misses Packett's head and lodges in the wall behind him. Packett doesn't even flinch. Val, a big smile on his face, holsters his gun.

VAL

Maybe next time you won't have your brother to protect ya.

CUT TO:

EXT. PACKETT CITY BANKMOMENTS LATER

The sign for the bank is brand new with fresh paint.

Packett and Sam come out of the bank first. Packett’s hands are tied up in front of him.

Dan’s gang, their guns out, follow them. They’re also carrying the money bags. Dan comes out last with his gun holstered.

DAN

Go home, Sam.

Sam doesn’t need to be told twice. He takes off running down the street towards his horse. He gets on it and rides out of town, going back the same way we first saw him coming into town with Packett and Dan.

Rowdy keeps his gun on Packett while Val and the twins tie off the money bags onto their horses.

Dan goes up to Packett.

DAN (pleading with all his might)

I swear to God, Brother, this ain’t how I wanted it. Val's right. It ain't too late. Ride with us.

Packett looks at Dan for a second and then spits in his face.

Dan wipes the spittle off his face and then backhands Packett hard, causing his mouth to bleed.

PACKETT

The Colonel was right. You’re no good. And I swear on our mother’s life, I will hunt you down and bring you in.

I ain’t gonnna kill you. I’m gonna bring you in and watch you hang.

Val hears this, grabs a rope off his horse, and storms towards Packett.

VAL (to Packett) We’ll see who hangs.

He grabs Packett and ties the rope around Packett’s neck. Dan just stands there watching. The look in his eyes says he is all for it.

Val looks around and sees a beam jutted out from the porch roof of the bank.

He pulls Packett hard towards the bank and throws the other end of the rope over the beam.

He pulls Packett up off the ground about six inches. Helpless to stop it, Packett gasps for air.

BANG!!!

We hear a GUNSHOT. Everybody freezes, looking around to see where the shot came from.

DAN

Let’im down, Val!!

Dan has his gun out with it pointed up in the air.

Val drops the rope and Packett falls to the ground, struggling to regain his breath.

Dan holsters his gun and pulls out his knife, the same one, we may notice, that he killed Levi with.

Dan walks over to Packett. He puts the blade of his knife on Packett’s neck.

Packett shows no fear and won’t even look at Dan.

Dan cuts the rope from around Packett’s neck. He sheaths his knife and looks at Val.

DAN

That’s enough killin!

Dan walks over to his horse and gets on it, everybody still frozen, still watching him.

DAN

Tie him up and let’s ride!!

Dan gives Packett one last look before spurring his horse and riding out of town.

VAL

(in Packett’s face) You’re one lucky son of a bitch, you know that?

Val picks the rope up off the ground and pulls Packett hard over to the hitching post.

VAL Bend over.

Packett, not sure what Val means, just looks at him confused. Val takes out his gun and hits Packett with it on the back of his neck.

VAL BEND OVER!!

Packett bends down, still not sure what Val means.

VAL No! Over the post!

Shaking, Val points his gun at Packett. Packett bends over and puts his stomach on the hitching post.

VAL

All the way over! Touch your toes!!

Packett bends down over the hitching post and touches his toes. Val holsters his gun and kneels down at Packett’s feet.

He ties Packett’s feet and hands together with Packett bent over the hitching post.

Val stands back up.

VAL

Look at him boys, the great John Packett!!

Val and the twins stand over him and LAUGH. Rowdy just watches from the street, not partaking.

Val grabs Packett by the hair and pulls his head up, so he can look him in the face.

VAL

Now who's the piece of scum, Sheriff?

Val lets go of Packett's hair. Bud bends down so that he can look up into Packett’s eyes.

Rowdy gets on his horse.

ROWDY

Leave him be. Let’s get goin.

Bud, still bent over and looking up into Packett’s eyes, gently taps Packett’s cheek.

BUD

And just so you know, Val didn't kill your deputy, I did.

Lon, standing next to his brother, is LAUGHING. This only eggs Bud on.

Suddenly Bud slaps Packett hard. He looks up at Lon, who is now LAUGHING even harder.

BUD

(enjoying himself)

Honest John Packett. My how the mighty have fallen.

The hate in Packett’s eyes is almost palpable. VAL Let’s get outta here. They all get on their horses.

LON Bud, you're a card.

Once on his horse, Val pulls out his revolver and starts shooting up in the air.

VAL (joyfully)

The Green River Boys is back!! You hear me, Sheriff? The Green River Boys!

Who just robbed the town of Honest John Packett!!

They ride fast out of town, shooting up in the air, leaving Packett tied up and bent over the hitching post.

It’s quiet and still for a few moments after the gang of outlaws have left.

Packett, all by himself, leaning helplessly over the hitching post, does seem almost comical. Almost, that is, if it wasn’t so embarrassing and humiliating to be left in such a compromising position.

Finally, like scared mice, the townspeople start to emerge from inside the establishments on Main Street. They go up to Packett and start to untie him. Some go in the bank, afraid of what they’ll find.

TOWNSPERSON #1 (untying him) Sheriff, you all right?

Packett doesn’t answer. As soon as he is freed, he starts walking down the street towards his horse. He rubs his neck in pain. Several townspeople follow him.

TOWNSPERSON #2 Sheriff, can we get you anything? A glass of water? Whiskey?

Packett just keeps walking. He touches his bloody lip to see how bad it is.

TOWNSPERSON #3 Sheriff, you want us to start getting a posse together?

TOWNSPERSON #1

He don't want no posse, he tracks alone! Everybody knows that!

TOWNSPERSON #4

Maybe you should wait and chase them after the election.

TOWNSPERSON #3 (to Townsperson #4) He needs to go now. That’s my money they stole!

TOWNSPERSON #4

Are you crazy? If he goes after them now, we won’t have a sheriff in town. What if they come back?

TOWNSPERSON #5

We can elect Purdee. Even a bad sheriff is better than no sheriff.

(to Packett) Where were you yesterday?

TOWNSPERSON #2 Yeah, where were you, Sheriff?

Packett gets on his horse.

PACKETT

I’m goin after them now, not after the election. And I’m goin alone.

Packett gallops away. But instead of riding out of town, he goes the opposite direction down Main Street.

As he rides by, they are bringing Mace’s dead body out of the bank. Packett doesn’t even slow down to look.

CUT TO:

INT. PACKETT’S STABLE - MOMENTS LATER

Packett leads his horse in and starts to take off the saddle. Lucy comes and stands by the door, watching him a few seconds. If Packett notices her, he doesn’t let on.

He leads the horse into a stable and closes it. He goes to a nearby stable and leads out another horse, bigger and stronger. He puts the saddle blanket on it, all the while with Lucy watching.

LUCY

Ain't you even gonna say goodbye?

He goes and gets his saddle.

PACKETT

(carrying the saddle)

I was gonna come in and say goodbye before I left.

LUCY

I don’t believe you. He stops and looks at her for the first time.

PACKETT

What kinda man you take me for?

Packett puts his saddle on and cinches it off. He picks up his rifle scabbard and saddle bag and begins tying them off.

LUCY

John, if you leave now, you won’t get reelected. And Polly and me will be evicted.

PACKETT

That’s nonsense and you know it. This town loves me.

LUCY

This town was ready to lynch you yesterday! You take off and don’t tell nobody where you’re goin! On the same day the bank is robbed! You may not win the election now, even if you stayed!

PACKETT

If it comes to that, you and Polly go live with Mace’s mother ‘til I get back. I won’t be gone long.

Packett leads his horse out of the stable. Lucy follows him.

EXT. PACKETT'S STABLE -

LUCY

CONTINUOUS

And what about the Colonel and Mother Packett? Do they just get thrown out into the cold?

PACKETT (impatient to get going)

I gotta go, Lucy. Say goodbye to Polly for me.

LUCY

Are you listening to me? When you get back, me and Polly may not even be here!

Packett gets on his horse.

PACKETT (pained)

I cheated on you, Lucy. I wouldn’t blame you if you left me.

He gallops away.

LUCY (yelling) What kinda man do I take you for? The kind that abandons his family! That’s what kind!!

But Packett doesn’t hear her, as he charges down Main Street at full speed.

EXT. ADOBE HOMESTEAD - DAY

The Adobe structure is nestled in between two bluffs, each about 30 feet high. This is definitely not the Texas Panhandle anymore. We’re probably in New Mexico.

The adobe house is a little run down, with a rotting wooden fence around it. Chickens and pigs can both be seen wandering around.

Packett comes riding up and stops in front of the house, just inside the wooden fence that’s rotting and falling down.

INT. CHEROKEE PINK’S HOUSE - LATER

The inside of Cherokee’s house feels a little small and cluttered. The furnishings are crude but simple. Packett and Cherokee are sitting at a rough-hewn table that Cherokee probably built himself.

CHEROKEE PINK is a man in his 40s, with two braided pony tails that reach down past his shoulders. He’s wearing overalls. Even though he’s a Native American, it’s obvious that he’s been Anglicized in many respects.

PACKETT So what do you think? You wanna come? It’ll be just like the old days...

CHEROKEE

The old days? Tracking that outlaw for you was the worse two weeks of my life.

PACKETT (trying to entice him)

Ten thousand dollar reward...I’ll split it with you.

CHEROKEE

Ten thousand dollars...just for a bank robbery? They didn’t shoot anybody?

PACKETT They did but...

Packett stops mid-sentence.

CHEROKEE

But what?

PACKETT

Just the teller with a flesh wound. They ain't dangerous or nothin. So what do you say?

Cherokee doesn't look convinced.

PACKETT

Fine. Don’t take my word for it.

Packett pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket and starts to unfold it.

CHEROKEE

You know I can’t read.

PACKETT

I’ll tell you what it says:

(reading)

Wanted for bank robbery in Packett City, Texas: the Green River Boys. Believed to be in the gang is outlaw and known horse thief Dan Mather.

CHEROKEE

Put your paper away. I believe you, Honest John.

INSERT of the paper in Packett’s hand. It’s a bill of sale for some horses.

He folds the paper back up and puts it back in his pocket.

PACKETT

They got a few days head start on us but that shouldn’t be any trouble for you. So what do you say?

EXT. TYPICAL WESTERN MAIN STREET - DAY

SUPERIMPOSE:

Colby, Kansas

A handful of citizens are walking around, going in and out of several businesses.

In the middle of the block is the town bank with just the word BANK on the front in big, bold letters.

Directly across the street from the bank in front of COLBY FEED AND GRAIN is Rowdy, standing beside two horses, both tied off in front of the store.

Squinting, he leans over and peers down the street. He sees what apparently he’s been waiting for:

Ambling up from the end of the street is Lon on a horse, pulling two horses behind him.

As soon as Rowdy sees him, he looks at Dan, who is sitting across the street in the window of a nearby saloon.

Rowdy nods to him. Dan nods back.

INT. COLBY BANK - MOMENTS LATER

There’s a man at the teller’s window and a woman in line behind him. There’s nobody else in the bank besides the teller and the two customers.

The door to the bank opens. Dan, Val, and Bud come in. Bud closes the door and posts himself by the window.

DAN

All right, this is a hold-up! Hands in the air!!

Val and Bud pull out their pistols. Dan pulls out a burlap sack he had hidden in his coat.

EXT. COLBY BANK - MOMENTS LATER

Lon and Rowdy are on their horses in front of the bank, Rowdy is holding on to the reins of another horse besides his own. Lon is holding the reins of two more horses.

LON

What’s taking so long?

ROWDY

They’re comin!

They look around. No sign of life anywhere on the street, which now seems odd.

Finally Bud and Val--with their pistols drawn, followed by Dan--holding the bag of money, emerge from the bank.

As soon as they emerge, GUNFIRE is heard. The outlaws are getting shot at. They start firing back, randomly shooting where they think the bullets might be coming from.

Desperate and panicked, they get on their horses, still firing but not sure at what exactly.

As Dan gets on his horse, his hand takes a bullet, causing him to drop the bag of money.

CUT TO:

Packett, behind a wooden post about 30 yards away with his Winchester. He stops shooting and gets on his horse.

The outlaws, now on their horses, are heading out of town, still firing behind them at whoever’s shooting at them.

Packett follows them, still shooting. Another rider, also shooting, emerges from the other side of the street.

He is also firing as he and Packett chase after the outlaws.

As shots are being exchanged, suddenly Packett’s horse goes down. Packett goes down under the beast. The second rider stops and goes up to Packett, trapped under his dead horse, the poor animal shot in the head.

We can now see that the second rider is a LAWMAN, his badge clearly visible. Most likely the sheriff of Colby.

Packett is trying to extricate himself from under his horse but is not able to do it.

PACKETT (struggling) Help me up!

The second lawman watches him for not even a second.

LAWMAN

They’re gettin away. I’m goin after them. Try to catch up.

The lawman leaves Packett trapped under his horse and rides away. Packett still can’t get out from under his horse.

PACKETT (yelling) Somebody come help! Cherokee!!

The townspeople cautiously start to emerge from inside the businesses, with Packett trapped under his horse in the middle of the street.

PACKETT (louder)

CHEROKEE!!

The teller we saw earlier in the bank runs up and grabs the bag of money that Dan dropped. He picks it up and takes it back inside the bank.

Cherokee finally shows up and tries to pull Packett out. He grabs Packett under the arms but then slips and falls on his rump. Several townspeople, still watching safely from just outside their doors, LAUGH.

CLOSE UP...

...on Packett. We can tell that the laughter rankles him.

Cherokee and Packett struggle but they finally manage to pull Packett out from under the dead horse. Packett stands up.

PACKETT (to Cherokee) Where’s your horse?

CHEROKEE

In the stable.

The townspeople watch Packett run, or try to run, down the street towards the stable. It's not a pretty sight since Packett is slightly overweight and out of shape.

We hear a few more CHUCKLES.

Cherokee follows him but he’s not running. He watches Packett run into the stable. After a few seconds he comes bolting out of the stable on top of Cherokee’s horse.

Without a word between them, Cherokee watches him gallop off in the same direction as the other lawman and the outlaws.

EXT. CLUSTER OF COTTONWOOD TREES - NIGHT

Dan's gang, all except one of the twins, is sitting up against various trees. Their horses can be seen tied off to a couple of trees behind them.

Almost like a search light, moonlight intermittently shines on them as it peeks out and then disappears again behind the clouds above.

Val is sitting next to Dan who is leaning back against a tree. Val is bandaging Dan's hand with what looks like one of the cloths that Dan put on Val's foot.

DAN (despondent) We should just go back to Browers Canyon.

ROWDY

We got over seven thousand dollars.

Dan LAUGHS to himself.

DAN

Ain’t nearly enough.

VAL

SHHH!! I hear somethin!

We hear several GUNSHOTS fired rapidly, maybe 100 yards away.

CUT TO:

CLOSE-UP of Bud in the dark.

He takes a step forward, looking closely at something.

We see a black, formless shape on the ground. The moon comes out from behind a cloud and we see that it's a man, lying face down, a pistol in his hand.

The other outlaws run up to Bud, brandishing their weapons.

BUD

We had a visitor.

ROWDY

Is it...?

Dan, wondering the same thing and expecting the worse, walks over and turns him over so his face can be seen.

DAN It’s the sheriff from Colby.

Val looks intensely out into the dark.

VAL

There’s probably more around.

DAN Nah. They woulda ambushed us by now.

VAL

I’m gonna go take a look. Wait for me here. Keep your eyes open.

DAN Val, I can’t let you do that.

LON

Wait here? What if they send a posse?

BUD They ain’t sendin’ no posse. Dan dropped the money.

DAN Val? VAL

He’s just gonna hunt us down, Dan. Sooner or later.

Dan gives a HEAVY SIGH.

DAN (reluctant) Get his tracker. That’s how you stop him.

ROWDY Won’t they come lookin for their sheriff?

VAL

Not for a few days. We’ll be long gone by then.

Val starts to walk away.

DAN Val?

Val stops and looks at him.

DAN (laying down the law)

Just the tracker.

Val gives him a big grin.

VAL

Sure, Dan. No worries. I’ll be back in the morning. Tomorrow night at the latest.

DAN

If you ain't back by tomorrow, we'll wait for you at Ike Whitley's in Liberal. Be careful.

VAL Back in a jiffy.

Val walks over to where the horses are tied off.

EXT. KANSAS PLAINS - DAY

There’s nothing around except a sea of grass.

Cherokee Pink is riding along on his horse (not the one Packett took) at a slow, comfortable gait.

Packett gallops up and slows down beside Cherokee. He’s riding Cherokee’s horse. They ride side by side in silence for a few seconds.

PACKETT

They told me in town that you’d left.

Cherokee looks at him for the first time.

CHEROKEE Didn’t you catch him?

PACKETT

No. I lost their trail.

They ride in silence for a few more seconds.

PACKETT Where you goin?

CHEROKEE Home.

PACKETT

Don’t you want your horse back?

CHEROKEE You keep him.

PACKETT

Don’t you want your share of the reward money?

CHEROKEE

Tell me something. The man you shot coming out of the bank. Why didn’t you kill him? I know you’re a better shot than that.

PACKETT (reluctant)

He’s my brother.

CHEROKEE

Yes, that I now know.

PACKETT

I don't wanna kill him. I wanna track him down, arrest him, and take him back to Buffalo Springs and hang him. He made me look a fool. In front of my own town. Well I'm gonna remind'em, I'm gonna remind'em all what happens when you rob John Packett's town.

CHEROKEE

I won’t help you catch him. I know something about brother turning against brother. It was my uncle who betrayed my father to your father.

Packett is surprised to hear this but doesn’t say anything.

CHEROKEE

Go home, Sheriff. That’s where I’m going. Leave vengeance to God.

Cherokee spurs his horse and Packett watches him ride away.

PACKETT

Go ahead and leave!! I’ll track him down without you!!

EXT. KANSAS PLAINS - LATER

Cherokee is ambling down a dirt road all by himself.

He sees the figure of another rider, still a ways off, coming towards him from the opposite direction.

Cherokee stops, thinking what he should do.

He finally decides to keep going down the road and let the other rider, hopefully, go past him.

As the other rider gets closer, Cherokee sees that he is also in no great hurry, riding along at a comfortable gait. This makes Cherokee feel safer but not us. Because as the rider approaches, we see that it is Val.

When they’re about 50 yards apart, Val guides his horse over to Cherokee’s side of the road, forcing Cherokee to stop.

VAL Howdy, friend. Mind if I ask where you’re goin? CHEROKEE (suspicious) Why do you ask?

VAL

No reason. Where’s your partner?

CHEROKEE Who would that be?

VAL

Oh...John Packett from Texas mebbe?

CHEROKEE

I don’t know where Packett is.

VAL What you doin up in these parts anyway? If I may be so bold as to inquire?

CHEROKEE

I came to help Packett track some bank robbers but I changed my mind. So now I’m going home. To New Mexico.

Val LAUGHS.

CHEROKEE

Why is that funny?

VAL

Well, I’ll tell you why, friend. You’re right about one of the things you said. But you’re dead wrong about the other’n.

CHEROKEE

How so?

VAL

Well, what you’re right about is, it’s true. You ain’t gonna be helping Packett catch no bank robbers. But what you’re wrong about is...you ain’t goin home neither.

Val quickly pulls a shotgun from a scabbard and unloads both barrels in Cherokee’s direction. Both Cherokee and his horse are almost instantly covered in blood. The horse falls to the ground with Cherokee on him.

Val scabbards the shotgun and pulls out his pistol.

Without getting off his horse he calmly lopes over to Cherokee, turns his horse around so he’s right over him, and shoots Cherokee in the head to be sure he’s dead.

EXT. LONELY SOD HOUSE ON THE KANSAS PLAINS - DUSK

Lon (or Bud?) is sitting against a lone tree atop a small hill, the sod house a few 100 feet behind him. He's posted as a lookout, his rifle at the ready.

The camera PULLS IN to almost a close-up and we see that he is fast asleep.

We hear somebody WALK UP to him.

VAL (off-screen) Bud?

Bud, startled by Val's voice, wakes up and accidentally fires his rifle. Luckily it's not pointed at anyone.

The rest of the gang comes running out of the house.

LON I'm Lon.

The gang runs up to Lon and Val. There's another man with them with a bald pate and a big bushy beard that goes down to his chest. This is IKE WHITLEY

DAN

What’s all the shootin?

VAL

I snuck up on your lookout here. He was asleep. When I woke him up, he fired his gun like a scared rabbit. Lucky it wasn’t pointed at me.

LON

That’s a dang lie!! I fired to wake you fellas up. To let you know Val was back!

DAN

Lon, How many times I gotta tell ya? You need to stay awake on lookout!

LON

Well why am I always the one who has to do lookout at supper time? Bud never has to do it!

BUD

I told you why! Ike wants me to guard the pigs! Now stop you're whinin'.

IKE (to Bud) I ain't got no-BUD Shut up, Ike! LON That's it. I'm hungry. I'm goin in.

Lon starts walking towards the house.

DAN

Lon, you're gonna finish your--

VAL I shot him, Dan.

Lon stops and looks at Val, along with everybody else. They stare at Val in silence for a moment.

DAN (finally)

Shot who?

VAL Your brother. I had to kill him. And his tracker. I killed'em both.

Val waits for Dan to explode but Dan just looks at him.

VAL I had to, Dan! He drew on me! It was me or him!

Again, Val waits to see Dan's reaction. Dan just looks down at the ground.

Dan finally looks at Val and nods his acceptance.

Dan walks down the hill, on the other side of the house.

He becomes a massless form of black in the looming darkness.

After a few seconds, we hear a MATCH LIGHT. Dan’s frame, maybe 50 feet away, is illuminated by the small flame.

Dan kneels down on his haunches and blows the match out, his frame once again becoming an empty shell swallowed up by the darkening dusk that is quickly descending around him.

Another MATCH LIGHTS and we see Dan’s frame again, kneeling down, his back to his gang.

VAL

Let's leave him be, boys. Come on.

Val leads his horse down the other side of the hill towards the house. The rest of the gang follow him. All but Rowdy, who stands at the top of the hill, staring down at Dan.

He walks down towards where Dan is squatting on his haunches.

Rowdy stands next to him and looks up at the sky. To his left, the horizon is one or two shades lighter, showing the location of the setting sun in the not too distant past.

ROWDY

He was gonna hunt you down and kill you. You know that, right?

DAN

He wasn't gonna kill me. He was gonna take me back to Texas.

ROWDY

So he could watch you hang.

DAN

Yeah, I know. Still don't make it easy.

We hear another MATCH lit and see Dan's face illuminated by the light.

DAN

Did I ever tell you 'bout the time he saved my life?

ROWDY Your brother?

Dan blows out the match.

DAN

No, Val. We was both working for the Cattle Growers Association. One morning a handful of rustlers ambushed me, drug me outta the bunkhouse and tied me up. They set me on a horse, threw a rope around my neck, and led me to the nearest tree. I didn't know it but Val was up on a hill with his repeater and before we got to the tree, he plugged a couple of'em and the rest scattered.

Dan lights another match.

DAN

And can you believe that lunkhead shot himself in the foot? On accident? On the very same day?

Dan looks at Rowdy and LAUGHS. He blows out the match.

DAN But we couldn't get him to a doctor cause them rustlers was after us. So after about a week, I had to cut it off myself.

Dan lights another match.

DAN I was hopin just one last job.

He blows it out. Rowdy looks at Dan's face, now mostly hidden in the dark.

DAN

Guess a man can't change what he is.

EXT. SMALL WESTERN TOWN - NIGHT

It’s snowing hard and there’s already about a foot of snow on the ground. It’s very serene and beautiful, as the snow falls on the stores on Main Street. Pretty as a picture.

A lone rider, cold and weary, comes plodding into town.

INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - NIGHT

THE LOCAL SHERIFF, a young man with a shock of black hair and striking features, is sitting at his desk concentrating on paperwork.

A PRISONER is in the only jail cell, lying on his cot and playing DIXIE on his harmonica. He doesn’t sound half bad.

The door opens and Packett comes inside. Before he closes the door, we can see the snow falling outside. He closes the door and takes off his hat to shake off the snow. His hair is unkempt and he looks cold and dejected.

PACKETT

I’m Sheriff John Packett from Texas. I’m looking for a gang of outlaws. Call themselves the Green River Boys. I understand they robbed this town not too long ago.

The Local Sheriff stands up.

LOCAL

SHERIFF Sheriff Packett, it’s an honor to meet you.

He walks over and shakes Packett’s hand, obviously impressed.

PACKETT

So have you seen this gang of outlaws I’m speaking of?

LOCAL SHERIFF

Well Sir, they did rob the train just outside of town here. Made off with four thousand dollars. But that was last August. They’re long gone.

PACKETT

Anything else you can tell me?

The Local Sheriff takes off his hat and scratches his head.

LOCAL SHERIFF

Well, we sent a posse after'em.

They killed one of our civilians but I think we knicked one of them. Can’t be sure of that.

PACKETT

You know where they mighta gone?

LOCAL SHERIFF

We chased’em South. Before we lost their trail.

The local sheriff thinks hard, still scratching his head.

LOCAL SHERIFF

I think one of the passengers they robbed on the train said they heard them talking about Texas.

PACKETT

They went to Texas?

LOCAL SHERIFF (shrugging)

Maybe. I don’t know.

PACKETT (sarcastic)

They went to Texas. Maybe. Well hell, then they shouldn’t be too hard to find.

LOCAL SHERIFF

Sorry I can’t be more help, Sir.

CUT TO:

An angry bolt of lightning, its thunder almost DEAFENING.

EXT. WESTERN TOWN - NIGHT

Packett rides up to a saloon and gets off his horse.

We can’t really make out what the town looks like or even the name of the saloon because it’s dark out and it’s raining cats and dogs.

Packett ties off his horse and goes in the saloon.

INT. SALOON - CONTINUOUS

Packett comes inside and closes the door. Looking haggard and soaked to the bone, he stands by the door and looks around. It’s a busy night.

We don’t really know where we are until Packett spots the person he’s looking for. He finally spots her where she’s seated with several cowboys.

It’s Mae, proprietor of the saloon/brothel in Amarillo that we are now back in--the same establishment that Dan took Sheriff Packett to when he cheated on Lucy.

Packett pulls his hat down to hide his face and walks up to her table.

At first, they don’t pay him no mind as he silently stands there next to their table.

COWBOY #1 (to Mae) You really don’t remember us?

MAE (flirty)

I think I’d remember a handsome cowboy like you.

COWBOY #1

Honest we was here. Last year...ask Clay here.

CLAY

We was with the Rock Creek outfit. Took’em all the way to Wyoming.

MAE

It’s starting to ring a bell.

As Packett stands there silently staring at them, they have no choice but to finally acknowledge his presence.

MAE (still flirty)

Hello, Cowboy. Here for a good time?

PACKETT

Hello, Mae.

Mae takes a harder look at him. He looks familiar but she can’t place him quite yet.

PACKETT Where is he?

MAE Who?

PACKETT

You know who. My brother.

Now Mae remembers who he is.

MAE

I haven’t seen your brother since the last time you two were in here together.

The cowboys at Mae’s table are all staring hard at him.

COWBOY #3

I know you. Aren’t you...yeah, you’re Honest John Packett! (yelling)

HEY EVERYBODY, JOHN PACKETT’S BACK!!!

The whole saloon stops what they’re doing and looks at Sheriff Packett. The last thing Packett wanted.

PACKETT

Roy, what’re you doin here?

Packett has recognized one of the cowboys, ROY, who spent some time in Packett City and is acquainted with Packett.

ROY

I could ask you the same thing, Sheriff.

PACKETT

I’m lookin for my brother.

VOICE IN SALOON (O.S.)

Hey Sheriff, why don’t you look for him in Packett City. Maybe he’s robbin your bank again!

Packett quickly looks to see who said this but he can’t tell.

All he sees is several people throughout the saloon LAUGHING at the joke at his expense.

ROY

Maybe you should look for your wife.

PACKETT

What do you mean?

ROY

I mean, she’s gone. After you left, the Colonel died and your family all left town.

CLOSE UP on Sheriff Packett. This news hits him hard.

PACKETT

What did he die of?

ROY

How the hell should I know?

He turns around and starts to leave. He takes a few steps and turns back around to face Roy.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Where did my wife and daughter go?

ROY (sarcastic)

I don't know. Mebbe she ran off with your brother.

VOICE IN SALOON (O.S.) Somebody said they went to Plainview, Sheriff.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Plainview. That's where Lucy's mother lives. And her aunts and uncles.

Sheriff Packett gives a nod in the direction of the person who supplied him the information.

SHERIFF PACKETT

Obliged.

He turns back around and heads for the exit.

EXT. SALOON - CONTINUOUS

Sheriff Packett comes out of the saloon. It’s still raining hard.

He’s getting on his horse when he hears his name being called.

VOICE

Sheriff!

Packett looks to see who’s calling him. It’s Sallie, the girl Packett cheated on his wife with. She’s standing just inside the door of the saloon.

PACKETT Sallie?

SALLIE They went to Tuscon.

PACKETT

Who?

SALLIE

Your brother. And his gang.

PACKETT

You sure?

SALLIE

Course I’m sure. They were here about a month ago.

PACKETT

Thanks, Sallie, but I’m goin home.

SALLIE

Sorry about your family. Good luck to you.

PACKETT

Good luck to you, Sallie. Take care.

Sheriff Packett rides away in the rain.

EXT. PLAINS OF THE TEXAS

PANHANDLE - DAWN

Sheriff Packett is riding in a southernly direction, loping along at a leisurely pace with the sun rising to his left. It’s no longer raining and the weather is actually quite warm and pleasant.

As the Sheriff rides, we see the same purple and pink clouds in the sky that he and his brother marveled over as they were riding in the opposite direction and with the sun setting on the other side of the horizon.

Sheriff Packett stops to look at the beautiful sunrise.

CLOSE UP...

...of Packet, deep in thought. The turmoil is written all over his face.

He reaches into his saddle bag and pulls out the dime novel written about him. He looks at the cover a moment and then briefly thumbs through it. He carefully puts it back in his saddle bag.

All of a sudden, he pulls his right rein, spurs his horse, and takes off at a full gallop to the west and away from Packett City. He doesn’t stop.

EXT. DENVER - DAY

Packett rides into town. There are a dozen or so townspeople milling around. Packett trots along until he sees what he came for.

One of the buildings says:

DENVER JAIL

Sweating profusely, Packett looks up at the sun. It’s broiling and without a cloud in the sky.

Packett takes off his hat and pulls out a handkerchief. He wipes his forehead and the inside brim of his hat. He puts them both back in their place and gets down off his horse.

He ties his horse off in front of the jail and walks up to the door.

He tries to open the door and step inside but it’s locked. He looks down, noticing for the first time a sign on the door. It reads BACK AFTER LUNCH.

Packett turns around and takes a step forward, looking around. Up the street he sees a sign over a building that says SILVER SPUR SALOON. He starts walking towards it.

INT. SILVER SPUR SALOONMOMENTS LATER

The door opens and Packett comes in, closing the door behind him. Packett stands at the door, having a hard time seeing anything in the dark after the bright sun outside.

Finally his eyes adjust and he makes out a handful of patrons scattered around the premises. He walks up to the BARTENDER, 30-ish with red hair and a handlebar mustache.

At the other end of the bar sits a man with a pock-marked face and a big scar under his left eye.

BARTENDER What’ll you have?

The Bartender pulls a supposedly clean shot glass from a stack of glasses, picks out a bottle from behind him, and fills the glass in front of Packett.

BARTENDER

Two bits.

Packett takes out a coin and tosses it on the bar.

PACKETT

When’s the sheriff gonna be back?

BARTENDER

Don’t know. A couple a days.

PACKETT

A couple a days? The sign on the door said after lunch.

BARTENDER

That’s Deputy Marshall Graham.

He’s the law until the sheriff gets back.

PACKETT

Where’d he go?

BARTENDER

Leading a posse, huntin down some bank robbers.

PACKETT Your bank was robbed?

BARTENDER

Yeah, a couple a days ago.

PACKETT You don't say.

Packett is pleased to hear this. He throws back his whiskey.

PACKETT Nother.

The bartender pours him another.

PACKETT

Would the posse be huntin down the Green River Boys by chance?

BARTENDER Why you so interested, stranger?

PACKETT

I’m Sheriff John Packet... The bartender just stares at him.

PACKETT From Texas.

BARTENDER Is that name supposed to mean somethin to me?

VOICE IN SALOON (from behind Sheriff Packett) Packett...Packett. I’ve heard the name.

Packett turns around.

Seated at a table not far behind him is an OLD CODGER with a long beard stained with tobacco juice.

OLD CODGER Colonel Packett.

Confederate hero in the War, if I’m not mistaken. Had a son...s'possed to be a good tracker. Texas Ranger or lawman or somethin of that nature.

PACKETT

That's me. And my father.

2ND PATRON (seated at a table in a corner) What you doin here? Long way from Texas.

PACKETT

I’m trackin the gang that just robbed your bank.

2ND PATRON Well we don't cotton much to Texas Rangers in these parts. You boys never seem to wanna stay in your own state. We got our own law.

PACKETT

I'm not a Texas Ranger. I’m Sherrif John Packett, from Packett Ci...from Bufallo Springs, Texas.

I’m trackin the Green River Boys. It’s led by my brother, Dan Mather.

2ND PATRON

Hey Pete! You hear that? This fella's got a brother who's one of the Green River Boys!

PETE is the man sitting at the bar with the big scar under his eye.

PETE (laughing)

Yeah, and my uncle's Jesse James!

PACKETT (ignoring the remark)

Did anybody get a look at the bank robbers?

BARTENDER Hadn’t heard anything.

PACKETT

Much Obliged. Gonna go see if the Deputy Marshall’s back from lunch.

Packett downs his whiskey and pulls a coin out of his pocket.

BARTENDER Drink’s on the house, Mister. Least I can do for the brother of one of the Green River Boys.

The other patrons CHUCKLE under their breath.

Packett turns to look at them. The look in his eye tells them he doesn’t think it’s funny. They quickly shut up.

Packett gets up to leave. He tosses the coin onto the bar.

PACKETT

(proud)

I'm payin for my drink.

INT. DENVER JAIL - NIGHT

Packett is asleep in a jail cell. The camera PULLS BACK TO REVEAL the cell door is open.

We see a lawman nearby, also asleep with his feet propped up on his desk and his cowboy hat drooped over his face. This is presumably DEPUTY MARSHALL GRAHAM.

A man dressed like a dude in eastern clothes, possibly the town BANKER, opens the door and comes inside.

BANKER Marshall!! Marshall, wake up!

Marshall Graham wakes up. He pulls his hat up and looks bleary-eyed at the banker.

BANKER They’re back!!

The Banker runs back out, leaving the door open.

The news finally registers and Graham rushes over to Packett, whose already sitting up.

GRAHAM Sheriff, they’re back!!

PACKETT Yeah, I heard.

Packett starts to put on his boots.

EXT.

DENVER MAIN STREETMOMENTS LATER

About ten riders, all looking dirty and tired, ride through town.

Encased in the middle of them is three men, all three handcuffed. All three are completely surrounded by the posse so we can’t see their faces.

The boardwalks in front of the saloons and restaurants are half-lined with patrons, all coming out from inside to see the posse’s procession as it goes up the street.

The posse stops in front of the jail at about the same time Marshall Graham and Packett come out.

Packett runs up to the posse, anxious to get a look at the faces of the apprehended.

Amidst the chaos of the excited townspeople, the posse dismounting, the pulling of the captured men down off their horses, Packett finally gets a peek at the outlaws in custody.

It’s the faces of three strangers.

INT. DENVER JAIL - MOMENTS LATER

SHERIFF KEARNS is tall and heavyset, weighing upwards of 300 pounds. Right now he's dirty and tired and just wants to go home, take a bath and get some sleep. Instead he has Packett pestering him with questions.

Kearns, with the assistance of Marshall Graham, are putting the three outlaws into separate jail cells as Packett stands close by watching.

PACKETT

So you haven't heard anything about the Green River Boys?

KEARNS Who are you again?

MARSHALL GRAHAM

This here's Honest John Packett.

Kearns is in one of the cells taking the cuffs off one of the prisoners while Marshall Graham stands outside the cell holding a gun on him.

KEARNS

Packett...Packett. Name sounds familiar...lawman from Nebraska?

PACKETT No. From Texas.

MARSHALL GRAHAM

Says his brother is Dan Mather.

KEARNS Dan Mather...

Kearns stops what he's doing. Alarmed, he looks hard at Packett.

KEARNS

Are the Green River Boys around here?

PACKETT

No. Not that I know of. I was hopin that this bunch you just captured would be them.

Kearns comes out of the cell and closes it shut.

KEARNS

This here's the Horrell Brothers. Haven’t heard of the Green River Boys bein active in this territory. You?

Kearns poses the question to Marshall Graham.

GRAHAM

No. Last I heard, they robbed a train

in Tuscon. But that was...a year ago abouts?

Kearns goes inside the next cell, all with Graham holding his pistol on the prisoner. Kearns grabs the prisoner by the shoulders and roughly swings him around so his back is to him.

KEARNS (surly)

Turn around. The prisoner has no say in the matter and is turned around. Kearns starts to take off his handcuffs.

PACKETT

Much Obliged, Sheriff.

Dejected, Packett starts to leave.

KEARNS

You know what you need, don’t you?

Packett stops and looks at him.

PRISONER

Sheriff, my arm's hurtin bad.

And it’s easy to see why. The sleeve of his right arm is covered in blood.

KEARNS

You’re gonna hafta wait. Doc’s outta town. Ain’t due back til day after tomorrow.

PRISONER

Can you at least gimme some whiskey?

KEARNS

We’ll see what we can do. Now shut up about it.

PACKETT

What? What do I need?

KEARNS

What you need's a good tracker.

PACKETT

Know where I can find one?

KEARNS

Not around here. Not anymore. Probably would need to go to Indian Territory.

PACKETT Oklahoma.

KEARNS Eastern Oklahoma.

PACKETT

Thank you for your help, Sheriff.

Sheriff Kearns and Marshall Graham watch Packett leave. Kearns comes out of the cell and closes it shut.

MARSHALL GRAHAM

So you never heard of John Packett?

KEARNS

Yeah, I remember who he is now. He shakes his head contemptuously.

KEARNS (to

himself)

Famous tracker don't even know how to track.

INT. SILVER SPUR SALOON - LATER

It’s busy and Packett is sitting alone at his own outof-the-way table. He has a half full bottle and a shot glass. He pours the shot glass full and downs it. He quickly pours himself another and downs that as well.

A handful of cowboys come in the saloon and sit at the table next to Packett.

They’re short one chair so one of the cowboys grabs a chair from Packett’s table.

COWBOY #1

(to Packett)

Mister, okay if I borrow this?

Before Packett has a chance to answer the question, the cowboy grabs the chair and pulls it over to his table. He has a seat with the other cowboys, his back to Packett.

Packett stands up and draws his gun. He points it at the back of the cowboy’s head and pulls the hammer back.

The CLICK gets the attention of all the cowboys at the table, especially the one with a gun to his head. They look at Packett in silence, waiting in mortal terror to see what he’s going to do.

PACKETT

My name ain’t Mister. It’s John Packett. (yelling)

HONEST JOHN PACKETT!!!

Now he has the attention of everybody in the saloon as they watch him, his gun pointed at the back of the cowboy’s head.

PACKETT (announcing it to everybody)

I'm lookin for my brother...Dan Mather.

He holsters his gun and grabs the whiskey bottle off his table. He stumbles towards the door.

Deadly quiet, we hear somebody in the saloon give a small CHUCKLE. Packett pulls out his gun, looking for whoever was laughing at him.

Everybody just stares at him in SILENCE.

Finally, he holsters his gun and heads for the door.

The cowboy he was pointing his gun at angrily starts to go for his gun but the cowboy sitting next to him puts his hand on the cowboy’s arm and stops him.

Whiskey bottle in hand, Packett makes for the exit, aware of all the eyes on him. This time he likes it.

EXT. SILVER SPUR SALOONCONTINUOUS

Packett comes out, takes a swig from the bottle and walks into the middle of the street. He looks around and starts to weave down the road. He takes another swig.

After a few yards, he stops and peers into a dark alley between two buildings.

PACKETT

Dan, is that you? He starts LAUGHING as he starts walking again. The LAUGH has a sense of desperation to it.

PACKETT (yelling at the top of his lungs) WHERE ARE YOU, DAN!!??

FADE OUT

SUPERIMPOSE:

THREE YEARS LATER FADE IN

INT. A SALOON SOMEWHERE - NIGHT

Val, Rowdy, and Lon are sitting at a table playing poker.

Also at the table is a GAMBLER who's a dandy. His clothes, once expensive and stylish, now look old and tattered.

The last player at the table calls himself FRED DODGE, we soon learn. He’s wearing ordinary cowboy duds, not too clean, but we may notice he’s also sporting an expensive gunbelt buckled around his waste.

Rowdy finishes shuffling the cards and deals them.

VAL (picking up his cards)

All right, Mr. Gambler, let’s see if you can make it three hands in a row.

GAMBLER Lady Luck does seem to be smiling down on me tonight.

VAL

If that’s what you wanna call it. I bet twenty. Val puts a twenty in the pot. Fred Dodge, sitting to Val’s left, also puts in a 20.

FRED DODGE I call. So Mr. Valentine, I hear you’re the meanest varmint this side of the Platte River.

VAL

Where’d you hear such a lie? I’m a pussycat. Ask Rowdy and Bud here.

LON Lon.

VAL

Ask Rowdy and Lon here.

GAMBLER

I see your twenty, and raise you fifty.

ROWDY

That’s 70 to me. I fold.

LON

Me too. Fold.

Lon angrily throws his cards down.

LON (sulking)

I ain't had a decent hand all night.

VAL

I’ll call you, Mr. Gambler. Val puts in another 50.

FRED DODGE

I fold. And I’m out. Gonna keep what money I have left. Okay if I just stay and watch?

VAL Suit yourself. Three sevens.

Val shows his cards to the gambler.

GAMBLER Three kings.

The gambler shows his cards and collects the pot.

VAL

Yep. Damn lucky, Mr. Gambler. A little too lucky.

GAMBLER What are you insinuating, Sir? VAL What’s your name, Mr. Gambler?

GAMBLER Beaumont. Jack Beaumont.

VAL

Well...Mr. Gambler, I ain’t insinuating nothin. I’m sayin you’re cheatin.

BEAUMONT

Gentlemen, look at my attire. Do I look like an individual who makes a habit of swindling cowboys in card games? The truth is, I’ve been down on my luck for quite a while now. And tonight, Lady Luck has finally seemed to smile a little in my direction, as is her far too occasional wont. As I’m sure you all know, she has a fickle heart.

As Beaumont talks, Val shuffles the cards.

VAL (dealing the cards)

Quit your yammerin and let’s just play.

FRED DODGE

So Mr. Valentine, is it true the Green River Boys has stolen over fifty thousand dollars? They say you got away with a fortune from the Telluride holdup last spring. VAL You got that right. Easiest pickens in years.

ROWDY

(to Fred Dodge) We ain’t stole that much.

We’d have every posse under the sun after us if we had.

VAL Bet’s to you, Mr. Gambler.

BEAUMONT

I’ll start with 20.

Beaumont throws 20 dollars into the pot.

FRED DODGE (to Val)

You know, I’m plannin on forming my own gang someday.

He looks at Rowdy and Lon.

FRED DODGE

Unless you fellas need an extra hand.

ROWDY

You’ll have to ask Val about that. I call.

LON Call. VAL

What’s your name, Son?

FRED DODGE Fred Dodge.

VAL Fred Dodge?

Val LAUGHS.

VAL

What’s your real name?

FRED DODGE Morris Bernstein. But in these parts, it’s Fred Dodge.

VAL Fred Dodge, on the dodge. On the dodge from the law, I’ll bet.

Well, Fred Dodge, gotta a favor to ask you.

FRED DODGE

Sure, Mr. Valentine. You name it!

VAL

Can you not call me Mr. Valentine? Everybody calls me Val.

FRED DODGE (pleased)

Okay, Val. VAL Thank you. Much appreciated. LON Come on, Val. You in or out? It’s twenty dollars to you.

VAL

Well, Mr. Gambler, I see your 20. And a hundred dollars says you can’t make it four in a row.

ROWDY (tossing his cards down) Fold.

Lon thinks about it a second, studying his cards.

LON Call. He puts in the extra hundred dollars.

VAL (with childlike glee) Full House!! Beat that, Mr. Gambler!!

Val shows his cards and indeed, he has a full house.

BEAUMONT

Well, you’re not going to believe this, gentlemen but...my, when Lady Luck changes she really changes.... four jacks.

Beaumont puts four jacks down, face up. He starts to collect the pot.

Val pulls his revolver out from under the table. He points it at Beaumont.

VAL You cheatin sonofabitch.

He then turns and puts two slugs into Fred Dodge’s heart. Dodge falls off his chair onto the floor, dead.

VAL

That feller asks too many questions. Rowdy gets up to go see to him.

VAL

Sit down, Rowdy! Leave him be! We’ll tend to him later!

The rest of the saloon’s customers freeze in terror, all eyes on Val. Val points his gun at Beaumont.

VAL (to Beaumont)

Show your cards. All of ‘em!!

Beaumont pulls out half a dozen face cards from his sleeve and sets them on the table. Val picks them up and puts them in his pocket. He then sets his revolver down on the table, with it pointed at Beaumont.

VAL This time we’re gonna have an HONEST game.

Put that pot back where it was, Mr. Gambler!

Beaumont obeys Val and slides the pot back to the middle of the table.

VAL Whose deal is it?

BEAUMONT I believe it’s mine, Sir.

VAL

No, no. Rowdy, you deal.

Rowdy collects the cards and starts shuffling.

Customers are slowly and quietly starting to file out of the saloon, eyeing Val the whole time and trying not to draw attention to themselves.

As customers sneak out, a short stocky man wearing a badge gingerly walks in. This is SHERIFF CRABTREE.

He goes up to Val and the others as they start playing the next hand. VAL

You’re bet, Lon.

Lon tosses two gold coins into the pot.

Sheriff Crabtree looks down and sees Fred Dodge lying dead on the floor.

ROWDY

Call and raise ten...

SHERIFF CRABTREE (reluctant)

Can I have a word, Mr. Valentine?

VAL

Not now, Sheriff. You can dispose of him when we’re done. Call.

Val tosses in a twenty dollar bill.

BEAUMONT I fold.

VAL Fold? You can’t fold!

BEAUMONT

Sir, I can see that it’s not in my self interest to win this hand.

SHERIFF

CRABTREE

I’m sorry Mr. Valentine, but I’m gonna have to insist. I need to talk to you outside.

Val angrily throws down his cards onto the table.

VAL Holy Mother of Pearl! All right, let’s go.

Val gets up and starts to follow Crabtree out the door.

VAL (to the other card players)

I’ll be right back. Keep that cheatin sonuvabitch here.

As Val & Crabtree walk out the front, Rowdy gets up and goes over to Fred Dodge.

EXT. SALOON - CONTINUOUS

Sheriff Crabtree comes out of the saloon with Val following him. As they come out into the street, we can see the name of the saloon:

THREE FINGERED JACK'S BAR & BILLIARDS

There are about a dozen or so townspeople loitering in front of the stores watching them.

Sheriff Crabtree and Val stop in the middle of the road.

VAL Whatsamatter, Dad? Ain’t you seein enough of the loot?

Val pulls out a huge wad of cash.

VAL

Well there’s plenty more where that came from.

Val starts peeling bills off his wad.

Crabtree looks around, noticing all the townspeople watching him.

SHERIFF CRABTREE

Not here, Mr. Valentine. Follow me.

Crabtree starts walking to the other side of the road towards a dark alley. Val puts away his money and follows him.

INSERT...

...of Val going for his gun but his holster is empty.

As they get to the other side of the street, Val sees a shovel sticking out of a mound of dirt. He pulls it out of the dirt and continues to follow Sheriff Crabtree.

Well out of the light on the other side of the street, Crabtree turns to face Val.

SHERIFF CRABTREE

Mr. Valentine, it’s not a question of--

Before he can get another word out, Val clocks him in the face with the shovel.

Crabtree falls to the ground.

VAL

I told ya...

For every emphasized syllable that follows, he strikes the poor sheriff with the shovel:

VAL DON’T CALL me MISTer VALentine.

Because of the darkness, we are spared the grisly sight for the most part.

Val throws down the shovel and squats down next to the sheriff.

We can’t really tell what he’s doing until a second or two later he stands back up, now with the sheriff’s gun in his hand. He empties the gun into the now lifeless body of Crabtree.

VAL

Call me Val.

The townspeople watch, all frozen in fascinated terror. Lon and Rowdy come running up and see that Val's killed him.

LON

Now you done it, boy.

VAL

Done what?

Val seems to notice the townspeople for the first time, all staring at him.

VAL

What y’all lookin at??!! I’ll give you what he got!!

Wild eyed, he manically shakes the gun at the crowd, causing some of them to instinctively duck or run for cover.

Val starts LAUGHING hysterically.

ROWDY (to Lon)

Go get Dan.

LON Where is he?

ROWDY

I know where he is.

Rowdy runs down the street a little ways. As he’s running, we see Three Fingered Jack’s saloon across the street.

He stops in front of another saloon to catch his breath for a second. He goes inside just as several customers are coming out.

INT. SALOON - CONTINUOUS

Rowdy comes in and looks around. There are a handful of customers strewn about, most of them having left when all the shooting started.

Rowdy looks around and spots Dan at a side table with a mug of beer. Rowdy rushes up to him.

ROWDY

Dan, you gotta come!! Val just killed Crabtree!!

DAN Not now.

ROWDY Did you hear what I said? Val killed the sheriff!!

DAN I can’t right now, okay? Take care of it!

ROWDY

Why? What’s wrong?

Rowdy notices that Dan has been looking at something the whole time and hasn’t once taken his eyes off it.

Rowdy follows his gaze to see what Dan’s looking at.

ROWDY

(astonished) Oh my Lord...

On the other side of the bar is a man staring back at Dan, as hard as Dan is staring at him. It may take us a second to recognize him but the other man is Sheriff Packett.

And he has his revolver out, resting on his table next to a bottle of whiskey, pointed in Dan's direction.

He looks 20 years older. His hair is long and stringy and he has a long unruly beard.

He’s lost close to 50 pounds since we saw him last.

Without taking his eyes off Dan, he grabs the bottle of whiskey on his table and takes a slug.

ROWDY

You okay, Dan? Need some help?

DAN Naw, go see to Val.

ROWDY You sure?

DAN Yeah I’m sure.

ROWDY (reluctant but following orders) Okay.

Rowdy leaves. Dan takes a big gulp of beer.

Packett sets down the bottle of whiskey and motions for Dan to come over.

Dan leaves his beer at his table and walks over.

Packett picks up his gun, keeping it pointed on Dan. But he doesn't get up as Dan walks over. Dan stands across from Packett at Packett's table.

PACKETT

Well if it ain't Dan Mather, leader of the notorious Green River Boys. Your gun. On the table. And don't try anything stupid that'll get us both killed.

Dan takes his gun from its holster and tosses it on Packett's table.

Packett picks it up and throws it across the bar. It skirts off a table and lands in a corner.

Only now do we notice that the only other person in the bar is a red-headed bartender. He looks familiar and maybe we'll remember him or maybe we won't.

Completely still, the bartender eyes the other two warily.

PACKETT (to Dan)

Have a seat.

Dan pulls out the chair across from Packett and has a seat.

Packett sets his gun down on the table but keeps it pointed at Dan.

DAN

So you finally found me.

Packett, somewhat inebriated, tries not to slur his words.

PACKETT

Yes and no. I been hiding out here for three years. Just a gamble, really. I knew this town had a green sheriff and a ripe bank so I was hoping that sooner or later you'd show up. And here you are.

DAN Here I am.

Speaking of the sheriff, you heard what Rowdy said. Mind if I go see how Val's fairin? I'll be right back. I promise.

PACKETT

Stay put. Val will be okay.

Just be glad you ain't had to tangle with the old sheriff. He was a mean cuss before he got himself killed.

DAN

So I've heard.

PACKETT Drink? DAN Don't mind if I do.

PACKETT Bartender! Bring us a glass!

The bartender nervously brings over both a shot glass and an empty beer mug. He sets them down and quickly retreats back behind the bar.

Packett picks up the bottle of whiskey and fills up the shot glass. He leans over and puts it in front of Dan.

Dan picks it up and downs it. He sets the glass back down.

DAN

I gotta be honest, Brother. I thought you were dead. Val said he killed you and your tracker.

PACKETT

Nope. Just my tracker. Next time you send an assassin to do a job, make sure he ain't a damn liar too.

DAN

Well, the one failing does seem to go with the other. And Brother, just so you know, I told him not to harm you.

PACKETT

No, Dan!! It's okay!! You did what you gotta do.

Packett picks up the bottle of whiskey to take a drink, changes his mind, and sets it back down.

DAN

So what now?

PACKETT

What now? Same thing I told you last time we spoke, outside the bank in Packett City.

Packett picks up his gun off the table and points it at Dan.

DAN

Go home, John. Forget about me. You're throwin away everything.

PACKETT

There's nothin to throw away, Dan. Anything I had, you took from me. You made me look a fool. In my own town.

DAN

I told you then and I’m telling you now. I didn’t know your bank was bein robbed that day!

PACKETT

You expect me to believe that?

DAN

If you don't wanna go home, then come with us. You still can. The offer still stands.

Packett thinks about it for a second.

PACKETT

No, I ain’t like you, Dan. I may be a sinner but I ain’t no thief. I ain’t no murderer.

DAN

I'm sorry you feel that way, Brother.

Packett stands up, his gun already drawn and pointed at Dan.

PACKETT

Stand up, bank robber. You're under arrest. I'm taking you back to Texas. And after that, it’ll go back to like it was before. You heard me! Get up!!

Dan stands up.

PACKETT Outside. Walk.

Dan heads for the exit with Packett following him, his gun leveled at Dan’s back. Packett is fast sobering up. He's sure to put some space between them in case Dan decides to pull anything.

EXT. SALOON - CONTINUOUS

Dan comes out of the saloon. Packett follows him with his gun pointed at Dan’s back.

We see the sign on the front of the saloon which says:

THE SILVER SPUR

It is, of course, the same saloon that Packett first walked into three years earlier.

PACKETT Walk down the street.

DAN

Which way?

PACKETT North.

Dan turns right and starts walking. Packett follows, making sure to stay about five feet behind Dan.

As they’re walking, Dan and Packett overhear some of the townspeople who are loitering in the streets.

TOWNSPERSON #1

That’s Dan Mather.

TOWNSPERSON #2

Who’s the other fella?

TOWNSPERSON #1 Don’t know.

They take about 10 more steps when suddenly we hear a GUNSHOT. Packett’s hat goes flying off. Dan disappears into the dark.

Packett empties his gun in the direction he thinks the bullet came from. He then turns and runs for his life in the opposite direction.

ROWDY (O.S.)

Dan!! Quick!! Over here!!

Dan runs towards the direction of Rowdy’s voice.

When he gets there, he finds Bud, Lon, and Rowdy all kneeling over Val.

DAN What happened?

LON

Packett shot Val.

Dan leans in closer and sure enough, Val’s been shot in the stomach. He’s struggling to breath.

DAN

Lon, run and get my gun. It’s in the Silver Spur. Bud, go find the doc.

Both Lon and Bud get up and leave.

DAN You okay, Val?

VAL Do I look okay?

ROWDY

Dan, we gotta get outta town. Marshall’s coming tomorrow with some men and they’re gonna organize a posse to come after us.

DAN

We gotta tend to Val first.

Dan kneels down next to Val.

VAL (in pain) I lied to you, Dan.

DAN I can see that.

VAL You mad at me? For saying I killed your brother?

DAN

Just stop talking. Bud went to get the doc.

VAL We still can, you know. DAN Okay, Val. You win. We’ll take him. Just don’t die on me.

INT. THREE FINGERED JACK’S BAR - LATER

Val is lying on a billiard table with the whole gang standing over him. The whole gang except Bud, who is posted as lookout by the door, pistol drawn.

Also standing over Val is the DOC, pushing 60, concentrating intensely on trying to remove the slug from Val’s gut.

Val starts MOANING in pain.

DOC

Give him some more.

Dan holds up Val’s head and pours some whiskey down his throat. Val spits most of it out but manages to swallow a little of it.

DOC

I'm sorry but I...I can't get it.

Dan pulls out his gun and points it at the doctor.

DAN

No, Doc. That ain't good enough. You ain't lettin him die, understand?

CLOSE UP on the doctor. He goes back to his work. He's never tried so hard at anything in his life. The sweat is pouring down his forehead. Finally we see a look of relief on his face.

DOC Got it!

The doc triumphantly holds up a pair of tweezers gripping a bloody slug.

Dan holsters his gun and holds his hand out. The Doc drops the slug into his hand.

DOC

Just need to bandage him up and in a few days he’ll be as good as new.

The doctor knows this is what Dan wants to hear.

DAN Thanks, Doc.

Dan, studying the bloody bullet, walks over to Bud. Dan looks out the window into the pitch black.

DAN (to Bud) We need somebody to lay the bait. You want the job?

BUD Job for what?

DAN

To stay behind and tell Packett where we went to, so he’ll follow.

BUD

Dan, what you thinking?

We gotta leave town but your brother ain’t gonna find us. He got lucky this time. He couldn't find us again in a million years!

DAN

He ain't my brother!

Dan looks wearily down at the bullet.

DAN

He almost killed Val. Val ain't forgettin that so best to end it now. You want the job or not?

BUD

Okay. So where you want me to tell him you’ve gone to, Dan? Where we goin?

CLOSE UP...

...of Dan. He looks Bud in the eye.

DAN

Browers Canyon.

EXT. ALPINE FOREST - DAWN

The sun comes up over the horizon as we see Dan’s gang riding to the north--the whole gang except Bud.

Val and Dan are on the same horse, Val in front. The bandage around Val's stomach is visible. Dan's trying hard to keep Val on the galloping horse, who is obviously in pain.

INT. SILVER SPUR SALOON - NIGHT

At the back of the saloon, a lady--young and pretty, comes through a door and closes it behind her. She adjusts her dress. By her appearance, it would be easy to conclude that she was a lady of the evening. It's a fairly busy night, the place about half full. The young lady walks across the saloon and has a seat next to none other than John Packett.

He is sitting with a bottle and a shot glass. He’s no longer wearing a hat and we can see a red scrape on the side of his head where a bullet might have grazed him.

She leans over and whispers something in his ear. She gets up and he follows her across the saloon back the same way she came.

They're about 10 feet from the door that leads to the back rooms when Packett hears a voice.

VOICE

Honest John Packett. My, how the mighty have fallen.

Packett stops. He would recognize that voice anywhere.

He looks over and sees Bud, a big smile on his face, sitting alone at a table holding a mug of beer.

BUD

He remembers me. I’m flattered! Yep, last time our eyes met, let’s see, I believe...I believe you was hogtied in front of your own bank which we had just robbed.

That’s a pretty accurate accounting, wouldn’t you say?

Bud smiles even bigger, enjoying himself.

PACKETT

Where's Dan? You tell him I'm gonna find him.

Bud LAUGHS.

BUD

Way I hear it, you couldn’t find water if you was drowning in the Pacific Ocean. How you gonna find him since your tracker’s dead?

Packett pulls his gun and rushes up to Bud.

He grabs Bud’s hair with one hand and with the other, digs the barrel of his revolver into Bud’s forehead.

Packett pulls back the hammer.

PACKETT

WHERE IS HE??!!

BUD

Browers Canyon.

PACKETT Where’s that?

BUD Wyoming. Just outside of Green River.

Packett lets go of Bud, holsters his gun, and starts to leave. Bud, a little flustered, takes a swig of beer and sets his MUG back on the TABLE.

Hearing the sound of the MUG hit the TABLE, Packett whirls around, draws his gun, and fires three times in Bud’s direction. Bud falls off his chair and onto the floor.

Packett, gun still drawn, walks over to Bud on the other side of his table. Bud is lying face down and Packett notices that his gun is still holstered.

Packett kneels down and turns him over. His eyes are open and blood’s coming out of his mouth. He’s obviously dead.

Packett stands up, horrified.

PACKETT (muttering to himself) I ain't like you.

A cowboy who was nearby goes over and kneels over Bud. Packett notices everybody staring at him.

PACKETT

I thought he was going for his gun. Honest...

COWBOY

You know who you just killed, mister? This here’s one of Dan Mather’s gang. Somebody go get the Deputy Sheriff.

PACKETT Nobody move!

With his gun still drawn, Packett slowly backs out of the bar, ready to shoot anybody who tries to stop him.

EXT. ALPINE FOREST - DAY

Packett is riding hard over the same ground we saw Dan’s gang riding over earlier.

EXT. MOUNTAIN PASS - LATER

Packett, now smack dab in the mountains, is riding slowly as he follows a fairly wide path with a steep incline taking him higher and higher.

EXT. NARROW ROCKY PATH - LATER

The path is narrow, wide enough for Packett’s horse but nothing else. Suddenly the path opens up into a large circle that dead ends. It is, of course, the same spot where Dan’s gang trapped the posse that was hunting Dan and Rowdy earlier.

Perplexed, Packett stops, trying to make sense of the path dead-ending. And what he should do next.

He isn’t pondering long when he hears two GUNSHOTS ring through the air.

Packett spurs his horse hard and takes off at a full gallop back down the mountain.

CUT TO:

Val lying on the ground dead with two bullet holes in the side of his head. He’s holding a rifle and the circle that dead-ends is seen in the background behind him.

The camera PULLS BACK to reveal Dan standing over Val, his gun pointed at Val's head. Dan holsters his gun and scrambles down to the circle. Rowdy and Lon follow him.

Dan walks through the hidden gap to where their horses are, Rowdy and Lon following.

LON (bewildered) You killed Val... ain’t we gonna go after him?

Dan, without even looking at them, gets on his horse and leads it at a very slow gait towards the hidden gap. His back slumps with the weight of the weary world on him.

DAN

I’m done with killin. But I won’t be if I ever see your faces again. And if I ever hear of something happening to my brother, I swear to God I will hunt you down and kill you. Understand? Make sure Val gets buried.

Rowdy and Lon aren’t sure whether to answer him or shoot him in the back as he slowly and wearily rides away. They choose to do neither and Dan disappears through the gap that will lead him down the mountain.

EXT. LUSH VALLEY - DAWN

Packett is at the bottom of the valley, standing next to his horse while it drinks its fill from the small stream that meanders from one end of the valley to the other.

He looks over to the east just as the sun comes up over a distant mountain top, filling the valley with light.

He checks the progress of his horse as it continues to drink. Waiting for it to finish, he opens up his saddlebag and pulls out the dime novel written about him. He studies the cover.

INSERT...

...of the cover. We can barely see the words MY DADDY that Packett's daughter wrote with pencil on the cover.

Packett rubs the first letter with his thumb and the M all but disappears, leaving a grey smudge.

CLOSE UP...

...on Packett, deep in thought. He gives a barely perceptible nod in the affirmative.

Packett puts the book back in his saddlebag and jumps on his horse. He spurs it and they take off in a southerly direction.

EXT. MOUNTAIN FOREST - DAY

We see remnants of a wagon and we soon recognize it is the place where Levi’s wagon rolled down the hill.

Dan comes riding up to it on his horse. He gets off and spends a second looking at it.

He then goes over to where he and Rowdy were digging Levi’s grave.

The hole is half filled with dirt and has grass growing on it. The rest of the dirt is still lying next to the hole.

Levi’s remains, of course, are nowhere to be seen.

Dan looks off and hears a mountain stream not too far away.

CUT

TO:

EXT. MOUNTAIN STREAM - MOMENTS LATER

Dan is kneeling down in the stream, rubbing his hands.

...of Dan's hands as he cups some water and brings it up out of the stream.

He watches the water seep through his fingers. His eyes well up with tears.

DAN

I'm sorry, Val. I'm sorry...

He can't stop rubbing and cleaning his hands.

INT. LEVI’S HOUSE - DAY

Abigail, wife of Levi who we saw at the beginning, is sitting in the kitchen shucking a bucket of corn cobs.

She’s still pretty but she doesn’t look like the innocent young bride that she was the last time we saw her.

She hears a KNOCK at the door.

CUT TO:

INT. LEVI’S FRONT DOORMOMENTS LATER

Whoever’s at the door KNOCKS again. Abigail, a little wary, peeks through a window to see who it is. She sees a strange man standing on her porch waiting patiently.

She walks over and opens the door. It may take us a second to recognize him but it is Dan. Even though he’s still wearing the same clothes we’ve already seen him in, now he is clean shaven and his hair is cropped short.

It takes Abigail more than just a second to recognize him as they look at each other. But when she does, a look of terror registers on her face.

She tries to close the door on him but Dan is too strong for her. He pushes his way into the house.

She takes off running up the stairs and Dan runs after her. He tackles her at the top of the stairs. She kicks him, gets herself free, and runs into her bedroom.

INT. ABIGAIL’S BEDROOMCONTINUOUS

Abigail rushes in and runs across the room. Dan is right behind her. She tries to open a dresser drawer but he catches her before she can and pins her to the wall, his face inches from hers.

DAN

If I wanted my way with you, I could do it. Right now.

But that ain’t my intentions. I came here cause I got somethin to say. And I'm gonna say it and you're gonna hear it. Then I'm leavin. You listening? I promised to bring your husband back alive and I failed. And I just want you to know I’m sorry. I”m sorry. If I could change it, I would. But I can’t.

ABIGAIL GET OUT!!!

Dan lets go of her and walks out of the room. Abigail goes to the dresser and opens a drawer.

INT. FRONT PARLOR - CONTINUOUS

Dan comes down the stairs and walks towards the front door.

Abigail appears at the top of the stairs with a pistol. She runs to the bottom of the stairs and before Dan can get to the door, she shoots him in the back.

Dan falters for a second, but keeps walking to the door, opens it, and leaves.

Abigail runs to the front door and closes it. Still with the gun, she runs back up the stairs.

INT. ABIGAIL’S BEDROOMCONTINUOUS

Abigail comes in and still holding the gun, starts pacing frantically. She finally goes over to her sewing table and picks up a small valise.

She dumps out its sewing contents and puts the empty valise on her bed.

She then goes over to the dresser, sets the gun down on it, and takes some clothes out of a drawer. Trying not to panic, she takes them and places them in the valise.

EXT. LEVI AND ABIGAIL’S HOUSEMOMENTS LATER

Abigail comes out of the house and closes the front door. With the valise in one hand and the pistol in another, she walks hurriedly towards the horse stable.

Suddenly she stops dead in her tracks, staring down at the ground. She sees a trail of blood leading directly to the horse stable. A horse WHINNIES from inside the stable.

INT. ABIGAIL AND LEVI’S FRONT PARLOR - NIGHT

Abigail, with no light on in the room, is rocking in a rocking chair holding a rifle. She’s rocking very fast, her senses alert to anything that might indicate an intruder.

EXT. ABIGAIL AND LEVI’S HOUSEDAWN

The sun peeks up over the mountains in the distance.

INT. FRONT PARLOR - CONTINUOUS

Abigail, still in the rocking chair and holding the rifle, is fast asleep. She wakes up when we hear a ROOSTER CROW.

EXT. ABIGAIL’S HOUSE - LATER

From the sun, we can see that it's about mid-morning.

Abigail comes out the front door with the rifle. She sees the trail of blood and ever alert, follows it to the stable.

INT. HORSE STABLE - CONTINUOUS

Abigail slowly and quietly opens the door to the stable. She goes inside, her gun at the ready.

She sees her two horses in their stable, both as calm as could be, wanting her to feed them.

She looks down and sitting on the ground in a corner is Dan. The side of his shirt, about at his waste, is covered in blood. He looks at her.

He’s lucid but also obviously in tremendous pain. Abigail points the gun at him.

ABIGAIL I told you to git.

DAN

I tried. I can’t. The bullet’s still in me.

Seeing that Dan is no immediate threat, she points the rifle at the ground.

ABIGAIL How’d he die?

DAN Can I get some water, Mam? She points the gun at Dan again.

ABIGAIL I asked you a question.

DAN He died brave, Mam. As brave as anyone I ever seen.

This seems to please Abigail. But only for a moment.

ABIGAIL Did you kill him?

DAN

No Mam. It was an accident. The wagon rolled down a hill with him still in it.

It’s getting harder for Dan to talk. He closes his eyes, wishing he would pass out.

ABIGAIL Did he suffer?

DAN (eyes closed)

No Mam. He died right away.

EXT. WIDE SHOT OF ABIGAIL’S HOUSE - DAY

The horse stable is seen nearby.

It’s deathly quiet when all of a sudden we hear a bloodcurdling SCREAM.

INT. HORSE STABLE - CONTINUOUS

Dan is SCREAMING bloody murder. He’s lying on his stomach on the ground with his shirt off.

Abigail, straddled over him with a knife, is trying to work the bullet out.

She pauses and sits up for a second and we can see it’s lodged in the area just above Dan's left hip.

Abigail wipes the sweat from her brow, getting blood on her forehead.

ABIGAIL

Scream your head off. Ain’t nobody around to hear.

Abigail goes back to work on the bullet and Dan SCREAMS even louder than before.

FADE OUT

With the screen black, we hear a door CREAK and then SLAM.

FADE IN

INT. HORSE STABLE - LATE AFTERNOON

Dan wakes up and sees that he's still in the stable. Through the wooden slats, he sees somebody outside passing by not two feet from him. He hears their footsteps RECEDE away from the stable.

Dan looks up and sees the two horses eating oats. They look down at him calmly as they munch.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT. HORSE STABLE - DAWN

Dan wakes up when he hears a rooster CROW. Using his coat as a blanket, he pulls it up over his shoulders.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. WIDE SHOT OF ABIGAIL'S HOUSE - MID MORNING

Abigail is walking from her house to the horse stable.

INT. HORSE STABLE - CONTINUOUS

Through the slats, Dan sees somebody walk right by him. The stable door opens and Abigail comes in.

ABIGAIL

How you feeling? You hungry?

DAN No. Just cold.

ABIGAIL Cold front blew in. Lemme check your bandage.

DAN I need to get up.

Dan tries to sit up. Very lighted-headed, he falls back down back onto the hay he's lying on top of.

Abigail goes over and kneels down beside him.

ABIGAIL

Just rest.

She examines his bandage.

ABIGAIL

Ain't no puss or bleeding. Bandage looks good.

DAN Thank you.

ABIGAIL

You sure you can't eat?

Dan weakly shakes his head no.

ABIGAIL

I'll go find you a blanket. I'll bring you some soup later.

Abigail gets up and leaves, closing the stable door behind her.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. WIDE SHOT OF ABIGAIL'S HOUSE - DUSK

Abigail is walking to the horse stable carrying a bowl of soup and a cloth napkin.

INT. HORSE STABLE - CONTINUOUS

Dan is still lying on his back, now with a blanket over him, when Abigail comes in with the soup.

ABIGAIL

You need to eat something. Here's some soup.

Still weak, Dan manages to lift himself up into a sitting position, his back against the wall of the stable. Abigail hands him his soup.

ABIGAIL

We gotta get you in the house in case another cold front blows in. Think you can walk yet?

DAN I don't know. I can try. He starts to eat his soup.

ABIGAIL

Levi has an old crutch that his Daddy give him. We can use that.

EXT. WIDE SHOT OF ABIGAIL'S HOUSE - EARLY MORNING

The sun is up over the mountains but is still mostly on the horizon.

Abigail and Dan are walking slowly from the stable towards the house. Dan has the crutch under his left arm and is leaning on Abigail with his right arm as she helps him.

INT. ROOM IN ABIGAIL’S HOUSEMOMENTS LATER

Abigail and Dan come in the room, Dan walking slowly with the crutch still under his arm.

We may or may not notice that this isn't Abigail's bedroom, the room that Dan chased her into when he first came.

Abigail helps him to the bed and he falls down onto it, exhausted and in pain.

She takes his crutch and sets it against a nearby bureau. She gently puts his legs under the covers and brings them up to his shoulders.

ABIGAIL

See if you can sleep some.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. ABIGAIL'S FRONT PORCHMORNING

Abigail comes out of the house wearing a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and leg chaps. She closes the front door as quietly as she can. She walks towards the stable.

CUT TO:

INT. HORSE STABLE - MOMENTS LATER

Abigail is putting a saddle on one of her horses.

CUT TO:

EXT. HORSE STABLE - MOMENTS LATER

Abigail leads her horse out. She puts her foot in the stirrup but then stops and just stands there, looking back at the house.

She sighs, undecided and torn about what to do.

ABIGAIL

(to the horse) What do you think, Blackie? Should we turn him in or not?

She strokes Blackie's muzzle.

ABIGAIL (to Blackie) Might be nice having someone else to talk to for a change.

Blackie gives her a gentle and contented nudge. Her mind made up, she leads Blackie back into the stable.

EXT. WIDE SHOT OF ABIGAIL'S HOUSE - AFTERNOON

We can tell about what time of day it is by the sun being almost directly overhead.

A wagon drives up to Abigail's house.

INT. ROOM IN ABIGAIL’S HOUSECONTINUOUS

Alone, Dan is sleeping. He wakes up when he hears a WAGON approach outside his window, which is cracked open.

We soon recognize the voice of Abigail but we don’t know the voice of the MAN she’s talking to.

Dan listens...

ABIGAIL (O.S.)

Howdy, Tom.

TOM (O.S.)

I brought you your seed.

ABIGAIL (O.S.)

Thank you.

TOM (O.S.)

Ruth says hi.

ABIGAIL (O.S.)

Say hi to Ruth for me. And the rest of 'em.

TOM (O.S.) I will.

There's a few seconds of SILENCE as Dan listens intently.

TOM (O.S.) (finally)

Well, I'll go unload your seed.

ABIGAIL (O.S.)

That'll be just fine.

TOM (O.S.)

Oh, I almost forgot. Second Sunday next month, we're having a Baptism down by the lake. After Meeting. I'm extending an invitation.

ABIGAIL (O.S.)

I would love to. I'll bring a cobbler.

TOM (O.S.)

Happy to hear it. I'll let Martha and Ruth know you're coming.

ABIGAIL (O.S.) Would you like to come in? I've still got some coffee on the stove.

TOM I'd like to but I've got to drop off some supplies at the Scott place before I head home.

ABIGAIL

Okay, Tom. Just put the seed in the stable like before. And thank you.

TOM I will. Goodbye, Abigail. See you next month.

ABIGAIL

Lookin forward to it. Tell'em all I said hi.

TOM

I will.

Dan listens to the WAGON drive away. He hears the FRONT DOOR open and close as Abigail comes inside.

Dan drifts back to sleep.

INT. HORSE STABLE - MOMENTS LATER

Tom is bringing in bags of seed and stacking them against a wall inside the stable.

With his full beard, farmer's clothes, and floppy hat--he looks a lot like an older version of Levi.

He tosses a bag down on the stack and walks towards the stable door to go get the next bag.

He looks down and stops.

There are several drops of blood visible on the wooden floor just inside the stable door. He follows the drops and sees they lead to a corner of the stable.

He walks over to investigate. He sees that there is some dry blood mixed in with the hay & straw that covers the wood floor. He kneels down and brushes away the hay. He sees blood, quite a lot of it, dried into the wooden floorboards.

He runs his fingers over it, trying to determine how fresh it is.

INT. ABIGAIL'S FRONT PARLORNIGHT

Abigail, in her rocking chair, is sitting by a window. There's a fire burning in the fire place. She is reading her Bible.

Dan, with his crutch under his arm, comes out of his room, passes by the staircase, and comes into the parlor. He's wearing what only can be described as a bed sheet cut into a long gown.

Abigail, surprised to see him up, sets down her Bible.

ABIGAIL You sure you should be outta bed?

DAN

Feels good to get outta bed for a change. All right if I set?

ABIGAIL

Just for a second. You're still weak.

Dan has a seat in a mahogany stained chair placed in front and to the side of the fire.

They both stare at the fire for a few moments, listening to it CRACKLE.

DAN

Who was that man you were talking to this morning?

ABIGAIL

That was my brother-in-law, Tom. He checks in on me every couple of months or so. Brings me supplies and what not.

DAN

Why you doing it? Why didn't you tell your brother about me?

ABIGAIL

He ain't my brother. He's my brother-in-law. I’m from Tennessee.

I ain’t got no kin here except what’s on Levi’s side.

DAN

Why you helping me to get better?

Abigail thinks how to answer him.

ABIGAIL

It's the Christian thing to do.

DAN Well, thank you.

Dan gets up and starts making his way back to his room. After a couple of steps, he stops, turns, and looks at Abigail.

DAN What's your name?

ABIGAIL Abigail.

DAN

My name's Dan. Well, good night. Dinner was good.

ABIGAIL

Thank you. Good night.

Dan turns back around and starts hobbling back towards his room.

EXT. ABIGAIL'S HOUSE - MORNING

A small wagon pulled by one horse is parked in front of the house. Abigail, comes out of the house, closes the door, and starts to climb into the wagon.

The front door opens and Dan comes out. He no longer has the crutch but he's still wearing the bed sheet.

DAN Where you goin?

ABIGAIL

Gotta run to the store. Gonna have to start plantin' soon.

Abigail looks at him.

ABIGAIL

You know, I could use some help around here. If you think you're up to it.

DAN I think I can do that.

ABIGAIL

Well, I better get goin. Be back around supper time. We'll see about getting you some clothes when I get back. You better get back in bed for now.

Dan follows orders and goes back in the house. Abigail taps the reins and the wagon lurches forward.

INT. ABIGAIL'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Dan once again is sitting in front of the fireplace, staring at it and poking it.

He looks over and watches Abigail rocking in her rocking chair over by the window. He notices she is once again reading the Bible.

What do you get out of it?

ABIGAIL

I gave my life to Jesus. Since then, the wind never blew so cold again. And I have a peace of mind that I'd never known before. That was Levi's doin. I'm grateful to him for that.

DAN You weren't mad at God? For taking Levi from you? Abigail thinks how to answer.

ABIGAIL

When I was a little girl, I had a cat. Big black tomcat I called Blackie. I loved that cat.

Anyways, one winter, a wolf up in the hills nearby was killin Neighbor Johnson's farm animals. And at night time, Daddy started puttin Blackie in a pen, to protect him from the wolf gettin him. I think he did it just to make me feel better. Anyways, so I would lay there in bed at night...and I remember Blackie just meowing up a storm, cause he wanted outta that pen. And the way he meowed, you'd a thought somebody was torturing him.

He couldn't understand that bein' locked in that pen was for his own good. And that's what I think God is like. He does things we think are mean or cruel but really, they're for our own good and like Blackie, it's just cause we don't understand the why behind it all.

Dan stares at the fire.

DAN Were you mad at me?

ABIGAIL

Sure I was. At first. But not so much after acceptin' it was God's Will.

And especially after you tellin' me what happened. It wasn't your fault, it was an accident.

CLOSE UP on Dan.

The fire CRACKLES which causes light and shadow to dance across his face, reflecting the turmoil behind his eyes.

EXT. ABIGAIL'S FIELD - DAY

Dan is trying to steer a plow being pulled by one of Abigail's horses. He's having a hard time keeping the trench straight. The ones behind him are pretty crooked.

He's wearing what are obviously Levi's work clothes. The only two remnants of his past life are his cowboy hat he's wearing and his gun belt.

As he struggles to control the plow, Abigail comes out with a tall glass of lemonade.

DAN

Thank you.

She hands it to him and he takes a long drink from it.

ABIGAIL

Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it.

DAN

Spent my entire life avoiding work. Might take longer than you think.

Dan takes another long drink and finishes the lemonade.

DAN

Thank you. That hit the spot.

ABIGAIL

Why you wearin your gun?

DAN

I'm wanted by the law.

Dan looks at her, wondering how she's going to take his news.

ABIGAIL

I reckoned as much.

DAN

But I'm done with that life.

Dan hands the empty glass back to Abigail.

DAN

Come on, Blackie, back to work.

Dan starts LAUGHING as he puts the lines over his shoulders and grabs the plow handles.

ABIGAIL

What's so funny?

DAN

You. This horse ain't even black. It's a paint.

He's right. We can see that Blackie is brown and white.

ABIGAIL

I like the name. It's a tribute.

They smile at each other, both knowing why she named him Blackie. Dan starts the plow and Abigail watches a second before walking back to the house with the empty glass.

INT. ABIGAIL'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Abigail is again in her rocking chair reading her Bible. Dan is again in the chair in front of the fire, poking it as he looks at Abigail.

DAN

So...I ain't seen you once go to church. How come?

ABIGAIL

It's too far away. The nearest one's in Salt Lake & that's almost a day's ridin by wagon. I'd like to go more but I gotta spend the night at Tom's when I do. And I don't wanna impose so I only go when he invites me.

DAN

But he invited you this coming Sunday.

ABIGAIL (a little surprised) How did you know?

DAN

I heard you and him talking about it when he came by with your seed.

ABIGAIL

That reminds me. I gotta bake a pie tomorrow to take with me.

Dan pokes the fire.

DAN

You told him you were bringin a cobbler.

ABIGAIL Did I?

She goes back to reading her Bible as Dan continues poking the fire.

DAN You plan on leaving me here alone...after what I told you?

ABIGAIL

I trust you.

DAN

All right if I come with you?

Surprised, Abigail stops reading and looks at him.

ABIGAIL

To Meeting this Sunday?

DAN Yeah.

ABIGAIL

I don't see how you can. Tom invited me to stay the night but he don't know nothing about you.

DAN

Well, we don't have to spend the night there, do we? We could come home right after.

Abigail thinks about it.

DAN

And don't worry about coming home in the dark.

You'd have a big strong man there to protect ya.

Dan gives her an ingratiating grin, hoping she'll get his immodest joke. She smiles back at him.

EXT. DIRT ROAD - DAY

Abigail, the reins in her hand, is sitting in her wagon pulled by Blackie as they make their way down a much used dirt road.

Dan is sitting next to her, Abigail's cobbler in his lap.

Abigail is in her Sunday Best wearing an ankle-length calico dress and a sunbonnet. Dan is wearing a dark suit of clothes that is clean, ironed, and wellstarched. They're not a perfect fit because the suit of clothes is, of course, Levi's.

Dan's hair is slicked back and he looks fairly uncomfortable as he pulls on his collar that's choking his throat.

ABIGAIL

You ain't gonna wear your gun into Church, are ya?

DAN

Naw, I'll leave it in the wagon. It's just for the ride home. What'll we tell your family when they see me?

ABIGAIL

I'll tell'em you're my brother come to visit from Tennessee.

DAN

Ain't that a lie?

ABIGAIL

Ain't none a their business.

EXT. SALT LAKE CITY - LATER

Abigail and Dan are driving down the main street of the town. We know where we are when we see a sign above one of the stores that says:

SALT LAKE SAVINGS & TRUST COMPANY

EXT. SALT LAKE TEMPLE - LATER

ESTABLISHING SHOT of the famous temple. We hear a HYMN being sung as we... CUT TO:

INT. SALT LAKE TEMPLECONTINUOUS

The temple is full as the congregation sings the HYMN.

Abigail and Dan are both standing with the rest of the congregation as the HYMN is being sung. Abigail, familiar with the hymn, sings joyfully and proudly as Dan just stands their listening and staring at the hymnal they are sharing.

EXT. SALT LAKE - LATER

There are a about a hundred people frolicking on the lake's beach. In one direction, the top of the city can be seen. In another, mountains are seen in the distance.

The families, which include everybody from 8 months old to 80 years old are sitting on the beach, kids running around, people eating, and lots of swimmers in the lake. It resembles a picnic more than anything else.

Tom and a handful of men are gathered together talking not far from Abigail and Dan, who are sitting pretty much by themselves. At the same time, the womenfolk are congregating by the dishes and desserts placed on the wooden tables.

Dan and Abigail watch as three men, all dressed in white robes, wade out into the lake. As they wade out, seemingly on cue, the rest of the people get out of the lake.

Everybody on the beach gets quiet as they watch the men in the lake. When everybody is quiet, one of the men gives a silent and solemn nod towards the people on the beach.

On that cue, about 15 children, all of them eight years old to be exact, wade out into the lake and form a line.

The first boy in line wades over and stands next to the BISHOP as the other two men look on.

The boy crosses his arms over his chest. The BISHOP places one hand on his arms and another on the boy's back.

BISHOP

Wilford, having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Bishop leans Wilford backwards, causing him to go completely under water for a second or two before raising him back up to a standing position. Wilford smiles at the bishop as he wipes his wet hair out of his eyes.

The bishop smiles back.

BISHOP

Good job, Young Man.

Wilford starts to wade back ashore when the next child, a girl, takes his place and the baptisms continue.

Abigail and Dan watch.

DAN

Do they let those that ain't Mormon get baptized?

ABIGAIL

I don't know. I don't think so. Dan stands up.

DAN

You weren't always Mormon, were you?

And with that Dan wades out into the water and gets in line to be baptized. Abigail is in shock and utter disbelief.

BISHOP

...I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Dan is getting closer to the head of the line as the baptisms continue.

Abigail, still seated on the beach, watches as Dan waits his turn in line.

Tom, Abigail's brother-in-law, comes and has a seat next to her.

ABIGAIL

Hi Tom. Nice gettogether. Good weather for it.

TOM Abigail, who is that man?

Abigail looks warily at Tom.

ABIGAIL

I told you. He's my brother.

TOM Abigail, you have no brother. Levi and I discussed it many times before he decided to marry outside the faith. So who is he?

ABIGAIL

Mind your own business. And I'm a Saint just like you, Tom.

Tom gets up and walks away. By now, it's Dan's turn to be baptized. He is the last one as he takes his place next to the Bishop and crosses his arms, having seen what to do from the others before him.

BISHOP

Who are you, Sir?

DAN

I'm Abigail Coon's br--

Dan takes a moment as he decides how to answer.

DAN

I'm a friend of Abigail's.

COUNSELOR

Bishop Lawrence, this is highly unorthodox. He's not even a Saint of the Church.

The COUNSELOR is one of the two men in white who are the official witnesses to the baptisms.

BISHOP

May I remind you, Counselor, that Jesus ate with the sinners.

And John baptized anyone who was repentant of their sins.

(to Dan)

Do you repent of your sins, Young Man?

DAN I do. BISHOP Then let us proceed. What is your name?

DAN Dan. BISHOP Dan... DAN Mather.

BISHOP

Mr. Mather, having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

And with that Dan is baptized.

After it's over, Dan and the three men wade toward the shore out of the water. Most of the congregation, wary of Dan, silently watch as he comes out of the water and has a seat next to Abigail.

Suddenly Dan starts crying and puts his head on Abigail's lap. She strokes his hair.

This seems to break the ice with the others. Some even go up to Dan to try and congratulate and console him.

CHURCH MEMBER

Welcome home, Friend.

The CHURCH MEMBER pats him warmly on the shoulder as Dan continues to cry on Abigail's lap. A SECOND CHURCH MEMBER comes up to Dan.

SECOND CHURCH MEMBER

What's your name, Brother?

Dan looks up at him, his eyes wet with tears.

DAN Dan.

SECOND CHURCH MEMBER

Welcome to the Covenant, Brother Dan.

DAN Thank you.

Everybody is moved and touched by Dan's outpouring of tears. Everybody except Tom, who watches the whole thing suspiciously.

EXT. DIRT ROAD - DAY

Dan and Abigail are riding in the wagon to home.

DAN

I killed him. I killed Levi.

Abigail looks at him.

DAN

I slit his throat. He was busted up pretty bad after the wagon rolled over him. And a posse was chasin us. We might a left him and hope the posse found him before the buzzards, but it wasn't likely. So I put him out of his misery. I knocked him out and then slit his throat...cause a gun shot woulda told the posse where we was.

Abigail stops the wagon.

CLOSE-UP...

...of Abigail. She gives Dan a questioning look, searching his face for the truth.

CLOSE-UP...

...of Dan in profile. He can't bring himself to look at her.

ABIGAIL (blood curdling) NO!!!!

She gets out and stands next to the wagon, holding onto the side to steady herself. Dan turns and looks at her, her back to him.

She kneels over and vomits, then lets out a heart-wrenching CRY OF PAIN followed by uncontrollable sobs. She falls to her knees in agony.

Dan jumps out of the wagon and puts his arms on her shoulders, trying to console her. She gets up and pushes him away.

ABIGAIL (in between sobs) No!! No!! NO!!

Dan goes up to her.

DAN

Come on. Lemme take you home.

Still sobbing, she starts to let Dan put her in the wagon but then violently pulls away from him.

ABIGAIL NO!! GO AWAY!!

She starts to walk to the other side of the wagon, quickly becoming inconsolable. Dan walks up to her.

DAN

Just lemme take you home. Then I'll go.

Abigail starts to climb in the wagon. With Dan's help she manages it.

ABIGAIL

Don't touch me!! Stay away from me!! Why did you come back here!?

Still sobbing, she picks up the reins.

DAN Wait!!

Dan reaches for and pulls out his gun belt and hat that was hidden in a corner of the wagon.

Abigail takes off in the wagon, leaving Dan stranded on the road. He puts his hat and gun belt on.

EXT. ABIGAIL'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Abigail's wagon, with her in it alone, rides up to the front of the house and stops.

She's no longer crying, but she sits in the wagon a long time-weary, exhausted, and in a daze.

EXT. DIRT ROAD - NIGHT

Dan is walking down the same dirt road that he and Abigail were riding over just hours earlier.

INT. ABIGAIL'S FRONT PARLORNIGHT

Abigail, alone in her rocker and with the fire going, is reading her Bible.

She looks over at the empty chair by the fire where Dan usually sits.

She sets her Bible down and kneels down to pray.

EXT. ABIGAIL'S HOUSE - DAWN

The sun peeks over the mountains and we hear a ROOSTER CROW.

INT. ABIGAIL'S STABLE - CONTINUOUS

The rooster continues CROWING as Abigail stands in front of Blackie, rubbing his muzzle.

ABIGAIL

Come on, Blackie. I think I know where we can find him.

EXT. ABIGAIL'S STABLEMOMENTS LATER

Abigail leads Blackie out of the stable by the reins. She jumps in the saddle and takes off just as fast as Blackie can carry her.

EXT. SALT LAKE TEMPLE - MORNING

Dan is standing in the courtyard, watching people walk into the Temple. He looks up at the sun.

Judging from its location in the sky, it's probably 10 or 11 o'clock in the morning.

Dan, still wearing his cowboy hat and gun belt as well as Levi's Sunday Best, looks a little worse for wear--mainly because of his stubble and his clothes which are dirty, sweaty, and wrinkled.

He continues watching people as they as approach the Temple. He starts walking with them.

As he gets closer, we notice several horses tied off to a hitching post off to the side. He walks over to them.

He nonchalantly unties one, and looks around. Nobody's paying him any mind.

He gets on and trots off through the courtyard and toward the street, back the same way he came. He gives a friendly nod to people as they walk by him towards the Temple.

EXT. SALT LAKE MAIN STREETLATER

Dan rides the stolen horse through town and past several businesses. He stops in front of the BANK OF SALT LAKE. He gets off the horse and ties it off in front of the bank.

He looks around carefully, noticing the people conducting their daily affairs, and then goes inside the bank.

INT. BANK OF SALT LAKECONTINUOUS

Dan comes inside and quickly cases the place. He sees that there are no guards. He then gets in line behind two more customers waiting to get to the window of the TELLER.

The man at the window leaves and MRS. FEENEY, the customer in front of Dan, steps up to the window.

MRS. FEENEY (to the teller) Could you cash this for me, please?

TELLER

How would you like that, Mrs. Feeney?

MRS. FEENEY

Two tens and a five will be just fine.

INSERT...

...of Dan's gun in its holster. Dan's hand grabs the butt of the revolver, ready to pull it out.

Mrs. Feeney finishes her business and walks towards the door just as another customer is coming in. He holds the door open for her.

MRS. FEENEY

Thank you.

The other customer, a rotund, middle-aged man wearing a pork pie derby, comes in the bank and stands in line behind Dan. Dan turns around and looks at him, sizing him up.

TELLER

Can I help you, Sir?

Dan walks up to the window.

INSERT...

...of Dan's gun. Dan halfway pulls it out but then puts it back in the holster. He takes his hand off of it.

The camera follows his hand as it reaches up and fondles the cross necklace around Dan's neck. The necklace Mother Packett gave him.

TELLER

(impatient)

Sir, did you have business you would like to conduct today?

DAN

Sorry...no. I just wanted to let you know I found a horse wandering around in the street. I tied it off in front of the bank.

I thought you might know who's it was.

TELLER

I'm afraid I don't. Perhaps you should inform the Sheriff?

DAN

All right...well, good day.

The teller doesn't reply but just looks at Dan like he's got two heads.

Dan turns and leaves, politely smiling at the man behind him.

EXT. BANK OF SALT LAKE - CONTINUOUS

Dan comes out of the bank, a big smile on his face.

He looks at the horse he stole. He walks away from it and down the street.

We hear a HORSE GALLOPING, getting louder and louder as it gets closer to Dan. Dan looks at the rider. He smiles.

VOICE (O.S.)

Hello, Dan.

It's his brother. Still on his horse, he has his revolver out and pointed at Dan. He gets off his horse and leads it to the side of the street in front of a store with a sign that says:

GENERAL

MERCANTILE & SUPPLIES

He loops the reins around the hitching post with his left hand, careful to keep his gun pointed at Dan with his right hand.

He walks back to the middle of the street. He and Dan are about 20 feet apart.

PACKETT

Drop your gun belt.

DAN

JOHN!! BEHIND YOU!!!

Instead of unbuckling his gun belt, Dan pulls out his gun and starts firing in Packett's direction. Packett starts shooting back.

They both unload their weapons in a flurry of gunfire. Dan falls to the ground but miraculously, Packett remains unhit, even though Dan is emptying his gun in Packett's direction.

Packett finally does get hit, but it's from behind. We see it go in the back of Packett's leg, just above his right knee.

The shooting finally stops, both brothers out of bullets. Packett, still standing, looks at Dan who is lying on the ground, a bloody mess.

Packett grimaces in pain and reaches down to touch the back of his leg where he's been shot. Looking behind him, he sees a bullet-riddled body lying on the ground not far from a wagon parked on the side of the street.

He limps over and sees that it's Lon Ballard, one of the outlaw twins in Dan's previous gang.

Packett sees that Lon isn't dead yet. Lon tries to pick up his gun lying next to him but he's too weak. Packett points his gun at Lon and shoots him dead.

Packett then rushes back over to Dan.

He leans over Dan, who isn't dead yet. But it's obvious he soon will be.

PACKETT

Why did you pull your gun? Don't die on me, Dan!!

Dan just smiles serenely up at him.

DAN

Forgive me, Brother.

The life is ebbing out of Dan fast. Packett grabs him by the collar and shakes him, trying to stop Dan from dying. Hot tears stream down Packett's face onto Dan's face.

PACKETT

Don't die on me!! What do I do now? (shaking Dan) WHAT DO I DO NOW!!??

Dan, still smiling, holds up the cross around his neck that Mother Packett gave him.

He tries to say something but he's not able to get the words out. He dies, a look of peace and serenity on his face.

Seeing that Dan has died, Packett looks up and notices the crowd that has started to gather in the streets.

He limps over to his horse, gets on it, and gallops away as fast as he can.

Just as he gallops away, two more riders come galloping up. One is wearing a badge, the other is Tom, Abigail's brotherin-law. They jump off their horses and rush up to Dan.

The man with the badge, the COUNTY MARSHALL, kneels down over Dan's body.

COUNTY MARSHALL

He's dead.

He gets up and walks over to Lon. He kneels down.

COUNTY MARSHALL

This one's dead too.

EXT. DIRT ROAD - DAY

Abigail is galloping along on Blackie when she sees another rider approaching her from the other direction.

She pulls up on the reins, waiting for the other rider to get to her.

At first she thinks it's Dan but soon realizes it isn't. Whoever it is, is fast approaching.

She spurs Blackie over to the side of the road and hides as best she can behind a clump of pine trees.

The lone rider, galloping hard, rides by without even looking in her direction. She doesn't recognize him but of course, we can see that it's Packett.

EXT. SALT LAKE MAIN STREETMOMENTS LATER

The crowd of bystanders, staying back before, now starts to make its way closer to the bodies lying dead in the street.

The County Marshall and Tom are looking down at Dan's bullet riddled body.

COUNTY MARSHALL (to Tom) So is this him?

TOM

Yes. That's the man my sis--my brother's widow took in.

The Marshall looks at Tom, just as the crowd starts to bump and shove them both out of the way.

COUNTY MARSHALL Don't you know who that is? TOM Who?

COUNTY MARSHALL That's Dan Mather.

TOWNSPERSON #1 The outlaw?

COUNTY MARSHALL I been on his trail for two months.

TOWNSPERSON #2 HEY EVERYBODY!! THAT'S DAN MATHER!!

The crowd pushes the Marshall and Tom out of the way. Somebody takes off one of Dan's boots and runs off with it.

Somebody else yanks Dan's hat off his head.

COUNTY MARSHALL Get back!! All of you!!

FADE OUT...

...as the buzzards descend.

SUPERIMPOSE over a black screen:

St. Louis 1922

With the screen still black, we hear the old-fashioned ALARM CLOCK go off like we did at the beginning.

The scene plays again with the old man getting out of bed at a cheap hotel. But this time we recognize the old man as Sheriff John Packett.

EXT. CHEAP HOTEL - LATER

Packett comes out of his hotel, which we now see is called DROVER HOUSE. The sign on the front window says: LODGING 75¢

A NIGHT

We also see that he's carrying a cane. He starts walking down the sidewalk, the cane helping him with a fairly pronounced limp.

As was common in the day, he's wearing a suit. It's old and tattered but at least it's clean.

Not far from his hotel, he stops at a newspaper stand. He spots something in a newspaper and picks it up. He starts reading the front page.

INSERT...

...of the newspaper Packett is reading. The name of the paper is:

THE DAILY HERALD

The headline reads:

FAMOUS OUTLAW KILLED BY HIS OWN BROTHER

Niece of the famous outlaw Dan Mather claims her father, Dan's brother, is who killed Dan Mather and not Lon Ballard, both members of the infamous Mather Gang.

Framed inside the article, there's a picture of Dan's lifeless, shirtless body. The blood has been washed off exposing several bullet holes through his torso.

He's propped up on a plank like a trophy fish.

Next to Dan's picture is a picture of an attractive woman who looks to be in her 20s and wearing the hat of a flapper.

VOICE (O.S.)

(as we look at the paper)

You gonna buy the paper, Mac? Five cents.

Packett looks up from the paper. The man running the newspaper stand is staring at him. Packett puts the paper down and continues down the street.

INT. NICE

RESTAURANTMOMENTS LATER

Packett comes inside. He looks around. There's only a few customers spread about.

A woman with a big smile on her face stands up when she sees Packett. This is the same woman whose picture we saw in the paper. She's wearing a different flapper hat and a flapper dress that was fashionable for the day.

Packett limps over to her table and they hug.

POLLY

Hi Daddy.

PACKETT

Hi Sweetie. They sit down. The waiter comes up to their table.

PACKETT (to Polly) What would you like?

POLLY (to Packett) Just some coffee.

PACKETT (to waiter) Two coffees.

WAITER Very well, Sir.

The waiter leaves.

PACKETT

So how's your mother?

POLLY She's fine.

PACKETT And how's William?

POLLY They're both fine.

PACKETT

So what is it you wanted to see me about? You said you had some big news?

POLLY (excited) It is, Daddy!

PACKETT

What?

POLLY

They bought the movie I was telling you about!

PACKETT Is that so?

POLLY

Yes! We've already got the scenario written. It's about you and Uncle Dan! Ten thousand dollars!! All for you!

PACKETT

You mean all for us.

POLLY

No, just for you, Daddy. It's about time your story got out.

PACKETT

And that woman...

POLLY

Abigail.

PACKETT

Abigail. She agreed to this?

POLLY

Finally! But the studio has to donate her money to the National Suffrage Party. That was her stipulation.

PACKETT

Women voting. What's the world coming to.

POLLY

Which reminds me.

Polly takes something out of her handbag.

POLLY

Abigail wanted you to have this.

INSERT...

...of Polly holding Dan's Cross necklace.

Also on the necklace hanging next to the Cross are two rusted pieces of metal: one in the shape of a star, the other about the size and shape of a silver dollar. Part of the necklace and the Cross is stained red with blood. Packett takes it from her. He stares at it, flabbergasted.

PACKETT

That's Dan's Cross... and Daddy's...how in the world did she get Daddy's medals from the War?

POLLY

I don't know. But she insisted that you have them. And the Cross.

She wouldn't take no for an answer.

Packett looks at it for a second, tears welling up in his eyes.

He very slowly and very deliberately puts the necklace on.

POLLY

Oh! And one last thing. Some reporters are gonna meet with you over by your hotel to do an interview for Life Magazine. Isn't it exciting!?

CUT TO:

A camera with an old-fashioned flash bulb going off.

Packett blinks like a deer in headlights.

He's standing in front of the newspaper stand we saw him at earlier as he read the newspaper. He's surrounded by half a dozen reporters, all with press cards in their hats. As they take pictures, they're bombarding Packett with questions.

REPORTER #1

Are you the brother of the notorious outlaw Dan Mather?

Before Packett even has time to answer, another reporter fires a question at him.

REPORTER #2

A woman who claims to be your daughter says you killed Dan Mather. Is that true?

REPORTER #3

How is it nobody connected you with the murder?

REPORTER #4

So you believe Lon Ballard's part in all this was just western myth? Any evidence to support your claim?

REPORTER #5

Ben Hecht, Chicago Daily News.

Everybody gets quiet, waiting to hear what this well respected reporter will ask.

BEN HECHT

Are you Honest John Packett, the once famous lawman that they named Packett City, Texas after?

...of Dan's Cross necklace, which is now dangling around Packett's neck over his threadbare seersucker suit.

Packett's hand comes into the frame and clutches it tightly.

SHERIFF PACKETT

No. You've got the wrong fella.

Sheriff Packett limps away down the busy street as the reporters fire more questions at him.

REPORTER

#3 Is it true that Hollywood is planning on telling your side of the story, providing it turns out to be true?

REPORTER #1

How much is Hollywood paying you for the rights to your story?

The reporters follow him a few steps but then stop as Sheriff Packett keeps going, ignoring the questions.

The camera PANS UP to show the hustle and bustle of the city. Sheriff Packett disappears into the crowd made up of cars, pedestrians, and the occasional horse and buggy...all going about their daily business.

FADE OUT