Appaloosa Page #4

COLE:

It was my pleasure.

Allison sees the star on Cole’s chest.

ALLISON:

Are you the Sheriff here?

COLE:

City Marshal. Virgil Cole. This

fella here is my Deputy, Everett

Hitch.

Allison turns to Hitch.

HITCH:

Ma’am.

ALLISON:

How do you do?

Allison removes her hat and sets it on an empty chair. Hitch

sits down with Cole.

(CONTINUED)

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ALLISON:

Could either of you gentlemen

direct me to a clean, inexpensive

hotel?

COLE:

We only got one.

ALLISON:

Is it expensive?

COLE:

Probably more than it should be,

there being no other choice.

ALLISON:

I only have a dollar.

COLE:

Do you have a name?

ALLISON:

Mrs. French. Allison French.

Chin brings her biscuits and coffee.

COLE:

You have a husband, Mrs. French?

ALLISON:

He died.

COLE:

Sorry to hear that. You do any

kind of work?

ALLISON:

I play the organ. And the piano.

COLE:

You’re not a whore.

ALLISON:

Don’t be crude.

COLE:

No need fluffing your feathers

about it. Don’t see a lot of

single women in these parts that

ain’t whores.

ALLISON:

Well, I’m one.

(CONTINUED)

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COLE:

Sprightly thing.

Hitch nods.

ALLISON:

Will the hotel let me stay for a

dollar?

COLE:

For as long as you’d like, Mrs.

French.

ALLISON:

How can that be?

COLE:

Might hire you to play the piano

too. You think so, Everett?

HITCH:

I do.

COLE:

(stands)

When you finish your breakfast,

Everett here will escort you down

and help you get settled.

HITCH:

Be my pleasure.

ALLISON:

Thank you very much, Mr. Cole, for

your kindness.

COLE:

(smiles)

No trouble at all. I hope to see

you again, Mrs. French.

Cole strolls out the door.

ALLISON:

Yes, Mr. Cole. That would be nice.

She looks at Hitch and smiles.

ALLISON:

... How can Mr. Cole be so sure

that they will give me a room?

(CONTINUED)

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HITCH:

Because I’m going to tell the man

who owns the place that Mr. Cole

wants them to.

ALLISON:

Does Mr. Cole always get what he

wants?

HITCH:

Pretty much.

Allison sips her coffee, nibbles a bit of biscuit.

ALLISON:

Have you known Mr. Cole for long,

Mr. Hitch?

HITCH:

Call me Everett, and I’m pretty

sure you should call Mr. Cole,

Virgil.

ALLISON:

Have you known Virgil a long time,

Everett?

HITCH:

Yep...

ALLISON:

And have you and he always been

Marshals here?

HITCH:

No, we just arrived a couple of

days ago.

ALLISON:

Where were you before?

HITCH:

We been all over out here. Virgil

gets hired to settle things down in

towns that need settling, and I go

with him, and after the town gets

settled then we move on and find

another town that needs settling.

Allison finishes a biscuit and puts the other in her purse.

Hitch puts some coins on the table.

ALLISON:

Do you kill people?

(CONTINUED)

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HITCH:

Now and then.

ALLISON:

Many?

HITCH:

A few.

ALLISON:

And Virgil?

HITCH:

More than a few.

Hitch picks up her bags.

ALLISON:

Do you like it?

HITCH:

Well, it’s kind of clean and

complete. You got him, he didn’t

get you.

They move to the door.

ALLISON:

But if you feel that way, what’s to

prevent you from just killing

anyone you feel like?

HITCH:

The law. Virgil always says,

people obey the law, you don’t have

a reason to kill ‘em.

21 EXT. PARIS CAFE - CONTINUOUS - DAY 21

Hitch manages to open the door carrying Allison’s bags. They

head up the street on the boardwalk.

ALLISON:

What if they kill you?

HITCH:

Hard thing to plan for.

ALLISON:

I guess I disapprove. I don’t know

enough about it, really. You seem

like a nice man, and so does Mr.

Cole, Virgil.

(CONTINUED)

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HITCH:

I’m pretty nice, I’m not so sure

‘bout Virgil.

ALLISON:

You have dimples. I think that’s

so cute on a man.

HITCH:

Me too.

ALLISON:

Are either of you married?

HITCH:

I’m not.

ALLISON:

And Mr. Virgil?

HITCH:

Not that I know about.

ALLISON:

But you’re his closest friend...

HITCH:

Virgil don't tell you much.

ALLISON:

Really, he seemed so talkative in

the restaurant.

HITCH:

Oh he’s talkative, talks a lot of

the time, he just don’t tell you

much, Mrs. French.

ALLISON:

Well, I’m going to ask him. And

call me Allie, my name is Allie.

They head on up to the hotel.

22 EXT. FRONT PORCH, MARSHAL’S OFFICE - A LITTLE LATER - DAY 22

Cole sits watching the town.

Hitch strides up, follows Cole’s look up to...

...two SILHOUETTED RIDERS on the rim of a ridge that rises

above the north end of town.

(CONTINUED)

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COLE:

You’ve been gone awhile.

HITCH:

She was asking me a lot about you,

Virgil.

Hitch smiles to himself, goes inside the office. Through the

window behind Cole, he pours himself a cup of coffee.

Hitch comes back out, leans in the doorway, grinning. He

waits... finally:

Cole looks over his shoulder at Hitch.

Hitch sips his coffee.

COLE:

Well, was she asking in a liking

way?

HITCH:

Wanted to know if you were married.

COLE:

By God. What did you tell her?

HITCH:

Said I didn’t know.

COLE:

Well, hell, Everett. You see a

wife around here?

HITCH:

I don’t.

COLE:

Then why the hell you tell her you

didn’t know?

HITCH:

Might have a wife in Silver City.

Or Nogales. Or Bisbee.

COLE:

Bisbee! Everett, if I had a wife

in Bisbee, don’t you think you’d

know about her?

HITCH:

Well, Allie says she’s going to ask

you, so you might want to have an

answer ready.

(CONTINUED)

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Beat.

COLE:

Had an Apache woman come live with

me once... Never any words spoke

over us or anything.

HITCH:

I think she’s more interested in if

you are presently married.

COLE:

Hell no, I’m not presently married.

HITCH:

She’ll be pleased.

Beat.

COLE:

Allie?

HITCH:

Yes, Allie. She likes to be called

Allie.

Cole takes that in... Cole and Hitch watch the horsemen on

the rim for a moment.

HITCH:

Whaddaya think?

COLE:

I think Mrs. French, Allie, might

become exclusively interesting.

HITCH:

Whaddaya think about the men up on

the ridge?

COLE:

I think you and me might want to

ride up there and see what they’re

doin’.

HITCH:

Can I finish my coffee first?

COLE:

You surely may.

"APPALOOSA" GREEN REVISIONS 10/30/07 27.

23 EXT. RIDGE - A SHORT TIME LATER - DAY 23

Cole and Hitch ride up behind the TWO RIDERS. One of them is

the YOUNG MAN we saw in the beginning with Bragg. The second

rider is DEAN.

COLE:

Howdy.

DEAN:

The town don’t come out this far,

Marshal.

Cole moves close to his side, friendly like.

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