Bare Knuckle Page #7

---

hair. Took off his belt and whipped

me with the metal buckle until my

flesh was scraped down to the bone.

All the while yelling, bad Jack,

bad Jack, bad Jack.

Destine is nearly crying hearing this tale.

34.

BAD JACK (CONT’D)

I’ve never told anyone that before.

Destine sets down her chalice and climbs into bed on top of

Jack, hovering over his body, her lips inches from his.

DESTINE:

My heart would weep for you, but it

is still far away...with him.

She kisses Jack, then rolls off him, laying with her back to

him. Jack reaches out to grip her throat, but instead drapes

his arm over her, holding her body tight to his.

EXT. NEW YORK CITY OUTSKIRTS - DAY

Kieran ties up his horse to a tree just outside the main

streets of the city. He looks at his trusty axe. He leaves it

and pulls his bayonet from his satchel and slides it down the

side of his trousers, concealing it with his shirt.

EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREETS - DAY

Walking by a hat merchant, Kieran quickly looks over the

inventory, and buys a flat cap. He pulls it down low to hide

his face and continues to walk through the impoverished city.

EXT. KNOW NOTHINGS SALOON - EVENING

Kieran sits across the street from the familiar saloon. He

watches as men enter and exit the seedy watering hole.

He has a good view through the front door, the open window,

and the balcony above. He scans for any sign of Bad Jack.

PASSER BY:

Sh*t, God damn f***ing horses!

Kieran looks at the old codger get livid after stepping in

horse manure. He drags his boots across the ground.

Kieran looks back to the balcony to see BAD JACK, peering out

over the streets. Kieran ducks his head and lowers his hat.

Seeing Jack sparks a rage in Kieran. He wants to climb the

walls and kill him where he stands. He slows his breathing

and walks across the street into the bar.

35.

INT. KNOW NOTHINGS SALOON - CONTINUOUS

Kieran tucks himself in the corner, hidden behind the gruff

crowd of drunkards. He waits and observes. A waitress

approaches.

WAITRESS:

What are ya having?

Not wanting to look suspicious Kieran orders.

KIERAN:

Whiskey.

She grabs a bottle and pours it. He takes the prop.

After a few moments, with his hat down, he makes his move

towards the stairs.

Engrossed in the wildness of a cock fight, no one notices as

Kieran clears the top step and sneaks down the hallway

towards Bad Jack’s suite.

INT. OUTSIDE BAD JACK’S SUITE - CONTINUOUS

Kieran peaks in through a small crack in the door. He sees

only darkness. He pulls his bayonet from his trousers.

Kieran slips through the door ready to bury his blade in

Jack’s heart. From the shadows, five bowery boys jump out and

attack Kieran. Jack lights a lantern and watches.

Kieran unleashes the beast, a scary sight to behold. He

blocks the first mans attack and slashes his face open.

Another goon hits Kieran with a club, sending Kieran flying

into another man, spearing him with his bayonet.

Kieran straight kicks a cutthroat to the ground and slices

open another one’s arm, but Lester approaches from behind,

pointing his pistol at Kieran’s head.

LESTER:

I’d stop right there unless you

want a hole through your melon!

The henchmen quickly grab Kieran, take his bayonet, and hold

his arms behind him.

Jack moves to Kieran, who even with a gun to his head is

barely able to be held back by the now four men with one

laying dead on the ground.

36.

BAD JACK:

You thought you could get the drop

on me in my city?! This is New

York! Everyone is under my thumb!

Bad Jack clocks Kieran across the face, but it does not have

the intended effect on the lumberman’s thick skull.

KIERAN:

I’m gonna eat your bloody heart!

Kieran head-butts one of the goons and tries to get to Jack,

but the other three hold their grip tight. Lester pistol

whips Kieran across the face. He feels it.

LESTER:

Don’t test me, sonny. I’ll shoot ya

dead right here.

BAD JACK:

You survived the front lines. How

impressive.

KIERAN:

Where is she?!

Jack pulls out dirty brass knuckles from his drawer.

BAD JACK:

Let me put your mind at ease. I’m

taking great care of that sweet

cunny of hers.

WHACK! Bad Jack smashes the brass across Kieran’s jaw.

KIERAN:

(spitting up blood)

You sent me to war you coward! Call

off your thugs and let’s settle

this!

POW! Another punch. Kieran head now droops almost limp.

BAD JACK:

Only time an enemy faces me alone

is in the ring. This is America. It

doesn’t matter what’s right or

wrong. The meanest son of a b*tch

willing to slit any man’s throat

who gets in his way -- he wins --

every time.

Jack smashes his heavy knee into Kieran’s face and the goons

let him fall to his back. He mumbles to himself.

37.

KIERAN:

Destine -- Destine.

Bad Jack moves to Lester.

BAD JACK:

Take him to the woods, gut him, and

bury him.

Lester smiles at the request.

EXT. STREETS OF NEW YORK - NIGHT

The henchman drag a nearly unconscious Kieran outside to a

horse drawn wagon fitted with steel bars for transporting

prisoners.

Lester walks to the wagon driver, a fellow copper.

LESTER:

It’s a shame, I don’t think this

one is going to make it.

Lester winks at the driver who nods back with acknowledgment.

One of the thugs bashes in Kieran’s ribs with his club.

Kieran falls to the ground as the bullies laugh.

LESTER (CONT’D)

Quit messing about and get him

chained up back there.

As they lift him up, Kieran’s blood filled eyes open just

enough to see Destine crossing the road towards him. A surge

of energy rushes through him.

KIERAN:

DESTINE!

Destine’s gaze snaps to attention. She squints to see who has

called her name.

The thugs struggle to keep hold of Kieran. Lester grabs

Kieran and throws him in the wagon, slamming the door shut.

Kieran reaches his arm through the bars.

KIERAN (CONT’D)

DESTINE!

Getting closer, Destine finally sees it is Kieran calling her

name. She can’t believe her eyes.

38.

One of the goons jumps on board with the driver as Lester

slaps the horse and they rush off.

DESTINE:

Kieran? KIERAN!

She gives chase, bounding after the wagon. Lester jumps in

her path. He wraps her up tightly holding her back.

DESTINE (CONT’D)

Let me go. KIERAN!

LESTER:

Get a hold of yourself woman.

She squirms even more ferociously.

LESTER (CONT’D)

God damn it! Settle your hysteria!

He shakes her firmly. Destine spits in his face and wriggles

free. She runs down the street after a hope that is gone.

I/E. WAGON - NIGHT

In the back of the wagon Kieran is elbowing and kicking wood

with all his might.

DRIVER:

Settle down back there, cock robin.

KIERAN:

I’ll kill all of you!

He continues to bang and kick.

DRIVER:

I said shut your hole!

(to the goon)

Stupid Irish prancer.

Kieran stifles his rage. He scans around. Shackles lay empty

on the ground.

He puts the iron cuffs around his wrists. He clangs the

shackles against the steel bars.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote