American Outlaws Page #3

ANGLE ON:

The Rangers PLOWING INTO the Union soldiers. Rattled, the

Union troops are beginning to break and fall back.

ANGLE ON:

Jesse as another nearby soldier draws a revolver. Jesse

snags his hand, twists it, wrapping the man's arm backward

around Jesse's waist. With the other man still gripping the

weapon, Jesse FANS THE HAMMER as he turns, shooting six more

Union soldiers as they try to rush him. With a final yank,

Jesse pulls the Colt from the man and crashes it down on his

skull.

ANGLE ON:

the Union soldiers in full retreat.

EXT. THE GATLING STATION

The few remaining Bluecoats break and run as Jesse reaches

the Gatling. Suddenly a FIGURE LEAPS UP from behind the

Gatling and FIRES his rifle. A bloody streak tears Jesse's

cheek and he stumbles onto his back. With a cry, the figure

jumps forward and buries his bayonet in Jesse's chest!

Jesse gasps, then, puzzled, looks down. The bayonet has

lodged right in the "X" of the ammo belts on his chest,

stopped by the bullets and leather. Jesse kicks. As the

Union soldier is knocked back, Jesse smoothly snap-kicks to

his feet and draws both remaining Colts. He pulls up short.

It's a fifteen year old boy, Web Mimms in a blue uniform.

There's a deadly pause.

JESSE:

You ain't even been with a girl,

have you?

The boy shakes his head. Jesse waves him off with the guns.

JESSE (CONT'D)

Git.

The boy scurries off. Jesse turns and lopes down the hill.

Instantly he's surrounded by cheering Missouri Rangers.

EXT. HILLSIDE

The Rangers move past Jesse. Jesse suddenly realizes Frank

is there. They fall into step together.

JESSE:

Distracting enough for you?

FRANK:

Pff. They hardly even noticed you.

JESSE:

So you're saying I could have done

more to attract their attention.

FRANK:

Mm-hmm.

JESSE:

Such as?

FRANK:

You could have worn one of those

big, floppy woman's Easter Sunday

hats.

JESSE:

That would have made an impression.

FRANK:

I figure.

JESSE:

See, that's your problem, Frank. By

the time you finish figuring out

stuff, I'm already finished doing it.

FRANK:

No, Jesse, your problem is you're

always doing stuff before I'm

finished figuring it out.

Cole, Bob, and Comanche Tom RIDE UP on their recovered

horses. Cole jumps down and picks up Jesse in a bear hug.

COLE:

Wait'll we get back to Missouri,

start telling those gals about how

little Jesse James charged the whole

Union Army by himself!

COMANCHE TOM:

You ride like a Comanche.

BOB:

You can ride like that?

COMANCHE TOM:

I said like a Comanche, not this

Comanche.

Cole mounts up, reaches down a hand to Jesse.

COLE:

Ride with me, cousin?

JESSE:

I could use the walk.

COLE:

Suit yourself. We'll have some

horses waiting for you at the road.

(then)

Let's ride, Rangers!

Cole slaps leather and the Rangers canter off. As they

disappear we hear:

BOB:

(low)

Now, I would just sound stupid

saying something like that...

Jesse and Frank watch them go, then start walking again.

JESSE:

(finally)

Web's dead.

FRANK:

I reckoned.

JESSE:

Hell of a war.

FRANK:

I'm sure it seemed like a good idea

at the time.

EXT. ROAD - DUSK

The James brothers, the Youngers, and the other Rangers

ride down a dirt road toward a ragtag column of Confederate

soldiers. The grey uniforms are ghostlike in the twilight.

The men are obviously broken, dispirited. The column

stretches down the road and around a bend as far as the eye

can see.

Jesse and the other Rangers ride into the midst of the

Confederates who part and flow around the horsemen like a

slow-moving river.

For a moment, nobody speaks while the whole eerie

procession glides past.

COLE:

Where you boys going?

JESSE:

There's Yankees back there. Lot's

of 'em.

One grizzled Confederate VETERAN, his arm in a bloody

sling, looks up at Jesse.

VETERAN:

War's over, son. General Lee

surrendered yesterday at Appomattox.

The soldiers move on. The Rangers stare into the middle

distance of despair. Cole rubs his hands across his face.

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