Appaloosa Page #9

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HITCH:

Why would she do that?

KATIE:

I tole you, she’s evil... Sooner orlater, she’s gonna tell him.

A50 INT. MARSHAL’S OFFICE - NIGHT A50 *

Cole sits at his desk reading. Bragg snores in his cell.

There is a knock at the back door. Cole readies his rifle.

Bragg stirs.

WHITFIELD (O.S.)

It’s me, Whitfield.

*

*

*

*

*

Cole opens the door.

Whitfield comes in looking rough and ashamed.

WHITFIELD:

Slept in the feed bin at thelivery.

Cole looks out, closes the door.

*

*

*

*

*

*

Bragg glares at Whitfield.

WHITFIELD:

I can’t face up to guns no more.

COLE:

You keep your word and testify andI’ll make sure you get out of heresafely.

BRAGG:

The prodigal son returns.

*

*

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*

*

*

*

*

50 EXT. MARSHAL’S OFFICE - MORNING 50

A BRIGHT AND CRYSTAL CLEAR morning.

office carrying a tray.

Tilda leaves the Marshal

51 INT. MARSHAL’S OFFICE - MORNING 51

Hitch & Cole, at their desks, feet up.

cell. Whitfield in his cell.

Bragg sits in his

*

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BRAGG:

I couldn’t help but notice your

books, Marshal. What’s the

fascination with Emerson?

Cole doesn’t respond.

BRAGG:

Not the most elegant writer, but he

does get his point across, doesn’t

he.

Cole ignores him.

COLE *

We been treating you kindly. In

return for that, we expect you to

speak when spoken to and otherwise

stay quiet.

BRAGG:

I can talk if I want to.

HITCH:

And Virgil and I can come into that *

cell and beat the sweet Jesus hell *

out of you every morning for

breakfast if we want to.

There’s a knock on the door.

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51 51

Hitch glances out the window, then opens the door.

CLYDE STRINGER, 55, tall, thin with a big mustache and

leathery skin, steps in the room followed by his Under

Sheriff, CHARLIE TEWKSBURY.

STRINGER:

Clyde Stringer. County Sheriff. *

(nods to his partner) *

Under Sheriff, Charlie Tewksbury. *

Virgil Cole? *

Hitch lets them through the door and nods them over to Cole. *

COLE:

Good to meet you... my Deputy,

Everett Hitch.

They shake hands.

STRINGER:

We just come in on the train from

Yaqui with Judge Elias Callison.

(motions to Bragg)

That Bragg?

COLE:

That’s him.

BRAGG:

Good morning Sheriff.

STRINGER:

(to Cole)

Judge wants to have the trial day

after next.

COLE:

This fella here is our witness, *

former hand of Bragg, Joe *

Whitfield. *

STRINGER *

You gonna testify? *

WHITFIELD *

Yes, sir. *

BRAGG *

If you don’t die of fright first. *

Hitch gives Bragg a warning look. *

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COLE *

Me and Everett are keeping him seq-*

(to Hitch) *

What’s the word I’m looking for? *

HITCH *

Sequestered. *

COLE *

We’re keeping him sequestered here *

for safety. *

STRINGER *

Well, Charlie and me’ll be happy to *

help you out ‘til the trial’s over. *

COLE *

Might have to take you up on that. *

"APPALOOSA" GREEN REVISIONS 10/30/07 57.

52 EXT. BOSTON HOUSE HOTEL - FOLLOWING MORNING 52

Cole is wiping clean the seats of a nice looking buggy. He

checks the rigging on the two-horse team.

Hitch walks down the stairs with a picnic basket and places

it in the buggy. *

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HITCH:

You sure you know how to handle

this rig?

Cole just looks at him. Hitch smiles.

TWO RIDERS are at the far end of Main, heading this way.

Cole stops what he’s doing.

HITCH:

You know them?

COLE:

Shelton brothers.

HITCH:

They do law work?

COLE:

They do gun work.

HITCH:

They good?

COLE:

Excellent.

HITCH:

Good as you and me?

COLE:

Don’t know that they ain’t.

HITCH:

Don’t look like they’re packin’.

RING and MACKIE SHELTON ride up. Ring is about 60, looks

like a wolf. Mackie is fifteen years younger, bullet scar on

his neck.

RING:

Been a long time, Virgil.

COLE:

Ring.

RING:

You remember my brother.

COLE:

Mackie.

MACKIE:

Virgil.

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They dismount and tie their horses to the hitching post,

hold open their coats - no guns. Big smile from Ring.

RING:

Can I buy you a drink?

Cole shakes his head and taps the Marshal star on his shirt.

RING:

Still doin’ that?

Cole nods.

RING:

Well, we ain’t.

COLE:

This here is my Deputy, Everett

Hitch.

RING:

You as good as Virgil with a gun?

HITCH:

Never been tested.

RING:

You seen him work, what would you

guess?

HITCH:

Never seen no one better than

Virgil.

RING:

But you ain’t saying you’re not as

good.

HITCH:

I ain’t discussing it, the truth be

told.

COLE:

(cutting this sh*t short)

What are you and Mackie doing in

town?

RING:

Everybody got to be somewhere,

don’t they, Mackie?

Mackie nods.

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RING:

Heard there was a big trial comin’up, might want to take that in. I

like a good trial.

Cole sees Allie, looking pretty, coming out of the Hotel.

All eyes turn to her. An awkward moment for Cole.

COLE:

This here is Mrs. French.

Ring gives Allie a look and tips his hat.

RING:

Ma’am.

Allie smiles slightly as Cole helps her into the buggy.

COLE:

Well, you been in some of my townsbefore. You know the rules.

Cole climbs up, takes the reins and - POP! They move off.

RING:

I always figured Virgil for whoresand squaws.

HITCH:

She’s neither one of them.

Hitch heads back to the office.

RING:

I’ll be damned.

53 OMIT 53

CROSS DISSOLVE:

54 EXT. MARSHAL’S OFFICE - SAME DAY - SUNSET 54

Cole and Allie are returning from their day in the buggy.

Hitch leans on the porch railing. Stringer is at the deskinside.

HITCH:

Have a nice buggy ride?

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ALLISON:

Oh, Everett, it was lovely. We’re

takin’ a look at the house, hop in.

Hitch taps on the window, gives a short wave to Stringer, who

nods “go on.”

Hitch hops in the buggy next to Allie.

55 EXT. BUGGY RIDE - CONTINUOUS - SUNSET 55

COLE:

Sheltons?

HITCH:

They rode out.

ALLISON:

The boys that were in front of the

hotel?

COLE:

Yep.

ALLISON:

Who are they?

COLE:

They’re just gunmen. Known ‘em a

long time.

ALLISON:

Longer than you’ve known Everett?

COLE:

Yep.

ALLISON:

Have you and they been friends?

COLE:

Ain’t been enemies.

ALLISON:

But you don’t act like they’re

friends now.

COLE:

Never were friends. Done some work

with them.

ALLISON:

Shooting work?

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COLE:

Yep.

ALLISON:

Can they shoot as good as you and

Everett?

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