American Outlaws Page #8

FRANK:

Yeah, I am. What about it?

Parker is surprised. Pinkerton has become interested in

these farmers.

PINKERTON:

Well, this land is about to be

condemned.

PARKER:

I'm doing you folks a favor --

COLE:

Said the skinner to the mule.

PARKER:

-- with a price of two dollars an

acre for this one time only offer.

After today the price goes down. So

if I were you, I'd just sign the

contract, and I'll be on my way.

Frank takes the contract from Ma and hands it back to

Parker.

FRANK:

Good day, Mr. Parker You can tell

Mr. Thaddeus Rains to put this where

the sun don't shine.

(to the boys)

Shakespeare.

JESSE/COLE

Ah.

Parker flushes with anger. Pinkerton and his men rest their

hands on their guns.

PINKERTON:

I don't think you understand. You

don't have a choice.

CLICK CLICK and we see Jesse's drawn and cocked two Colts

from out of thin air. Frank has pulled his rifle from the

doorway. Parker and the detectives are furious, but

Pinkerton seems no more than curious.

PARKER:

(to Ma)

Ma'am. You have to look in your

heart and do what you know is right

here.

MA:

Let me ask the Lord.

Ma bows her head for a moment. She then nods and looks up.

MA (CONT'D)

The Lord says we can bury 'em out

back in the orchard, nobody'll ever

find them.

JESSE:

Somebody's in a vengeful smiting

mood today.

FRANK:

Why don't we just let them go for

today, Ma. We'll bury them out back

next time.

MA:

Oh all right.

Parker, and the detectives are stepping backward to the

buggy.

PARKER:

You people are making a serious

mistake!

Pinkerton himself has lingered, taking in the group.

PINKERTON:

(nodding)

Nicely played.

Parker, Pinkerton and the detectives RIDE OFF. The group at

the James house watches them go, then Cole turns to Jesse.

COLE:

Where the hell did you get those

guns?

OFF JESSE'S SHRUG WE

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. SCHOOL HOUSE - NIGHT

Dozens of men and a few women are packed into the one room

school house. Among them are Frank and Jesse. Doc Mimms is

leading the meeting.

FRANK:

I went up to the courthouse and

looked at the right of way documents

for the rail bed. The railroad

doesn't even need our land, they're

just taking the land on both sides

for as far as they can.

JESSE:

Damn. All that reading paid off.

DOC MIMMS:

Floor recognizes Clell Miller.

CLELL MILLER, tall and blond, steps forward.

CLELL:

They're saying we don't sell, we

might end up with nothing!

FRANK:

That's only if we don't stick

together.

DOC MIMMS:

(pointing)

Loni Packwood.

LONI PACKWOOD, a sad, scruffy man stands up.

LONI:

I say this is the last straw. I

came back from the war, I found my

house burned down. My cows was dead.

Now my wife's run off with my

cousin, Jeb, that sonofabitch.

(tearing up)

Took my dog--

DOC MIMMS:

Ah, Loni, about the railroad.

LONI:

I forget.

(almost weeping)

Took my dog...

Another FARMER steps up.

FARMER:

I signed.

FRANK:

Harlan, you can't.

FARMER:

I'm tired of fighting. I'm just

gonna take my family and move west.

CLELL:

Maybe we should hire a lawyer.

FARMER 2

That's a good idea!

FRANK:

It would be, if the courts were on

the up and up.

CLELL:

So what do we do?

ANGLE ON:

the school house door as it BANGS open and Bob Younger

STUMBLES IN, bleeding from a cut on his forehead, being

supported by Zee.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes