3:10 to Yuma Page #3

The STAGECOACH lists to one side, you can feel the weight of

this iron carriage. The FRONT AXLE SNAPS. Horses break free-

The STAGECOACH NOSES INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND FLIPS, rolling

end over end like a semi on the turnpike. McElroy, the

driver, and injured Pinkertons catapult to the air.

16A ANGLE ON:
THE OUTLAWS hounding unfortunate survivors.

Darden touches his BOWIE KNIFE to the chest of A PINKERTON.

PINKERTON:

Oh God, Mr. Wade. Please. I got a

wife and three kids. Please don’t-

DARDEN:

What did you call me, boy? I ain’t

Ben Wade. My name is Tommy Darden.

Legend with a blade. Soon to run

this outfit. Say my name. Say it.

PINKERTON:

...I can’t remember it...

(CONTINUED)

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16A CONTINUED:

Darden twists the knife as the driver howls.

Charlie Prince wields his TWO SCHOFIELDS like the Reaper,

singing and doing a soft shoe as he puts two Pinkertons out

of their misery.

17 CLOSE ON-- BEN WADE

moves slowly, confidently toward the coach, unimpressed by

the carnage. Most of the coach horses have run off. A couple

are on the ground. A few cattle wander about dazed.

18 EXT. STAGECOACH, DESERT VALLEY - DAY

As the dust settles. The outlaws find McElroy pulling himself

in the dirt, holding his leg, reaching with his other hand

for his HAMMER SHOTGUN.

CHARLIE PRINCE:

Morning, Pinkerton. Name’s Charlie

Prince. I expect you heard of me.

MCELROY:

I heard of a balled-up whore named

Charlie Princess. That you, missy.

Darden and Jackson get a chuckle out of this -- Charlie

Prince smiles, then fires a SHOT into McElroy’s gut...

...and McElroy just GRUNTS.

CHARLIE PRINCE:

I hate Pinkertons.

ANGLE ON:
BEN WADE riding up now, the gang clearing a path.

He stops before McElroy and they share a look...

WADE:

When’d your hair turn all gray,

Byron.

McElroy says nothing. Wade gives a nod to Sutherland who

rushes up to the PADLOCKED STEEL DOOR on the stagecoach, a

SATCHEL OF EXPLOSIVES under his arm.

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED:

WADE (CONT'D)

I heard, Byron, that your boss, Al

Pinkerton, president of the most

feared protection agency in all the

world, home of the eye that never

sleeps, well, I heard he got an

infection from biting his own

tongue ...and died last month.

That true?

(turns)

Makes you think, don’t it Charlie?

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED:
(2)

Some of the gang laughs. As Sutherland sets EXPLOSIVES, Wade

circles the toppled coach, admiring the ARMORED PLATES.

WADE (CONT'D)

Al spared no expense on this one,

Byron. Probably cheaper just to let

me rob the damned thing.

MCELROY:

If you’re gonna kill me, I’d just

as soon get to it.

WADE:

(dismounts)

I’m not gonna kill you.

Not like this.

MCELROY:

You let me live, it won’t change a

thing. I’ll come for you.

WADE:

Be disappointed if you didn’t.

BOOM! THE EXPLOSIVES blow the STEEL DOOR off its hinges.

Moons lies, groggy and bloody on the floor.

Darden jumps past Sutherland and inside the stagecoach

(stepping over Moons, who plays dead). He reappears with a

STRONG BOX. He shoots off the PADLOCK and OPENS the box...

...to reveal DOZENS OF CASH ROLLS inside. Railroad money. He

whoops with joy, tossing the CASH ROLLS to Jackson who puts

the CASH ROLLS into SADDLE BAGS.

Wade watches the pair closely.

EXT. RIDGE, DESERT VALLEY - DAY

...From the crest of the ridge, Mark waves to Dan and

William. Mark sees the HERD and the STAGECOACH WRECKAGE,

OUTLAWS swarming around it.

Coming up the rise, Dan goes still at the sight of this.

He signals silence to Mark. Mark’s horse fidgets.

Some rocks tumble down the ridge.

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20 EXT. STAGECOACH, DESERT VALLEY - DAY

...the robbery is almost over now. Darden emptying out the

last of the STRONG BOX. Nez packing the CASH in SADDLE BAGS.

Wade glances at the wounded Jorgensen who’s tied a BANDANNA

around his ear. He gives the boss a nod, he’s okay.

All of a sudden ...CLICK! Darden freezes, hearing a PISTOL

from behind. The rest of the gang goes still, guns ready. As

Moons climbs out from inside the coach, grabbing Darden,

hostage-style. He is a blood drenched mess.

MOONS:

I’ll ask you to put down the money.

DARDEN:

‘not a good play, friend.

MOONS:

...Step back now. All of you.

Hands up. Or he dies.

No one in the gang moves a muscle. Darden tries to free

himself but Moons holds tight, cocking his weapon to Darden’s

temple. Darden looks at Wade.

DARDEN:

...Sh*t.

-- Wade quick-draws his COLT “PEACEMAKER” -- BANG! -- AND

SHOOTS DARDEN who spins violently-- grabbing his NECK and

falling to the ground, mortally wounded.

BANG! ANOTHER SHOT snaps Moons’ head back.

He falls to the ground, dead.

21 EXT. RIDGE, DESERT VALLEY - DAY

It’s obviously the first time the children have ever seen a

killing. Mark is shaken... William fascinated...

...and we see that Dan’s all too aware of this.

WILLIAM:

He is fast...

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED:

DAN:

Back up. Quietly. William.

Rocks start to slide as Dan moves them to a less exposed

point.

22-25 OMITTED

26 EXT. STAGECOACH, DESERT VALLEY - DAY

BACK AT THE COACH, WADE reloads his smoking pistol as he

speaks to Darden stuggling for last breaths on the dirt.

WADE:

...Well, Tommy. It appears there

was a Pink in that coach you didn’t

see. Now I don’t know if Charlie

told you, but we got a few rules in

this outfit. And this sad outcome,

well, this is what happens when you

put us all at risk. You were weak.

Some rocks fall in the distance, from where Dan and his sons

are making a retreat. A boy coughs. The whole gang hears it.

CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!

Ten guns whip to the ridge. Cocked and leveled at Dan.

Wade leaps on his his horse, GALLOPING up to the ridge WITH

CHARLIE PRINCE AND CAMPOS RIGHT BEHIND HIM.

Jackson starts to pick up the money... ...but Nez gets there

first. Placing the SADDLE BAGS full of cash onto his horse.

The other outlaws watch him.

27 EXT. RIDGE, DESERT VALLEY - DAY

Dan rides in front of his two boys as Wade and Charlie Prince

approach. Wade and Dan stare at one another.

WADE:

Morning.

DAN:

Those are my cattle. I want them

back.

CHARLIE PRINCE:

Careful, rancher. That’s Ben Wade

you’re talking to.

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED:

We see William, awestruck.

DAN:

I need them back.

They’re all I’ve got.

WADE:

I don’t want your herd. But I’m

going to need those horses.

(CONTINUED)

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CONTINUED:
(2)

CHARLIE PRINCE:

(moves forward)

So you don’t do anything foolish.

Dan sheaths his rifle and gives his boys a look. They

dismount and Charlie Prince takes their horses.

WADE:

You’ll find them on the trail to

Bisbee.

The two outlaws turn, taking the horses, riding down the hill

leaving Dan his boys.

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