Bare Knuckle Page #8

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KIERAN:

Come shut it for me you rump-fed

codpiece!

He continues to make noise with the shackles.

39.

KIERAN (CONT’D)

Take these chains off and see what

happens. I’ll rip off those pint

size twiddle-diddles and shove them

down your f***ing throat!

The horse clamors as the driver pulls harshly on the reigns

until the carriage halts. The driver pulls out a billy club.

GOON:

Wait ‘til we get to the woods.

The driver leaps from the wagon and puts the key in the door.

DRIVER:

Ready to take a nap, boy.

As the driver flings the door open, Kieran furiously leaps

out of his cage sending the unexpected copper on his back.

The goon pulls a knife and jumps off the wagon onto Kieran’s

back. Kieran catches his arm just inches before the blade

slices his throat.

Kieran rolls on his back with the driver still beneath him.

The driver wraps his arm around Kieran’s neck. The goon

pushes with all his might to put the blade in Kieran’s neck.

Kieran thrusts his head back into the driver’s nose. Two more

times until his grip loosens. He pushes his thumb deep into

the goon’s eye.

Kieran grabs the driver’s pistol, and POW! The goon looks

down in horror at the hole blown through his chest.

Kieran stands over the barely conscious copper who looks up

at Kieran with trepidation.

KIERAN:

You lose.

BOOM! The shot echoes through the starry sky.

STREETWALKER:

Help! Somebody help! Police!

An onlooker spots the chaos. Kieran jumps on the carriage and

bolts away as torches light up across the way and chase him.

EXT. NEW YORK CITY OUTSKIRTS - NIGHT

Kieran rides hard towards the tree and his tied up horse. He

jumps off the moving wagon and rolls through the dirt.

40.

He mounts his horse and watches the torches stay on the trail

of the wagon, then he rides off the other way

INT. BAD JACK’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Glossy eyed drunk, Jack sits at the edge of his bed putting a

wet washcloth to fresh bloody wounds on Destine’s face.

BAD JACK:

You shouldn’t have ran after him.

What did you feel when you saw him?

DESTINE:

Intense pleasure. Something you

could never give me.

Jack rubs her busted lip harshly. Destine winces.

BAD JACK:

War has mangled the mans mind. He

is no longer the man you loved.

DESTINE:

Where did your men take him?

BAD JACK:

It was not my men. The law took

him. He is off to die a deserter’s

death.

Destine looks away, trying to fight back her tears, not

wanting to cry in front of Jack.

BAD JACK (CONT’D)

Don’t be sad. Now your heart is

free for me to capture.

Destine looks at Jack with pure malice.

BAD JACK (CONT’D)

Easy my dear. We don’t always

choose where we end up. Fate has

brought you and I together and we

are going to see it through.

Jack gently pulls her bloody face into his chest and strokes

her hair.

BAD JACK (CONT’D)

That means there will be no more

running off. No more teasing. And

not one word about your Irishman.

You’re mine now. In every way.

41.

Tears pour down Destine’s face, soaking Jack’s vest through.

BAD JACK (CONT’D)

You hurt me tonight. Don’t do it

again.

EXT. PHILADELPHIA BROTHEL - MORNING

Kieran trots, exhausted, to a brothel in the heart of

Philadelphia. Flies buzz, landing on his crusty wounds.

Kieran drops from his horse and submerges his head in a troth

of dirty water.

JUST DOWN THE WAY

A beautiful black harlot, EMILY, is scurrying away from a fat

grisly monster of a man, GRISLY.

EMILY:

Now I done told ya, I ain’t gonna

lay with you again. Not after all

them bruises you left last time.

GRISLY:

Listen whore, I want that black ass

bouncing on my cock and that’s

exactly what I’m going to get.

EMILY:

I’m sorry I can’t oblige. Plenty of

other girls can attend to you.

As they approach the front of the brothel, near Kieran, the

grisly man grabs Emily’s arm and violently spins her around.

GRISLY:

Nobody says no to me. Especially

not some blackie whore.

He balls his hand into a fist. Emily looks around with

fright. She spots Kieran.

EMILY:

I’m not saying no, sir. I’ve

already been paid for the entire

morning.

GRISLY:

By who?

42.

EMILY:

Why he’s right over here.

(to Kieran)

There you are. You finally arrived.

Kieran looks around befuddled and is shocked when he realizes

she is talking to him.

EMILY (CONT’D)

Now we can go inside.

Emily wraps her arm around Kieran and helps him to his feet.

GRISLY:

This red haired piece of horse

dung? He can barely stand, how is

he supposed to f***?

EMILY:

Oh, we’ll manage.

GRISLY:

I’ll double what he’s paying and

that’ll be the end of it.

Kieran is finally figuring out the situation.

EMILY:

I can’t back out on this fella.

GRISLY:

I’m not going to-

KIERAN:

The lady made herself quite clear,

so why don’t you be on your way.

GRISLY:

Do you know who you’re talking to?!

I’ll finish the job somebody else

started on that face.

Kieran musters up all the strength he has left and pulls his

axe from under his gear.

KIERAN:

Finish it then!

Grisly looks at the notches.

GRISLY:

(to himself)

The lumberman.

43.

Kieran steps aggressively forward.

KIERAN:

Go on!

GRISLY:

Apologies. She’s all yours, sir.

Grisly cowers off down the street.

EMILY:

Thank you mister. I’m sorry to drag

you into my mess.

KIERAN:

It’s quite al-

Kieran get’s dizzy. The light-headedness takes him over and

he collapses.

INT. KNOW NOTHINGS SALOON - DAY

Amongst the clangorous drinkers, Bad Jack sees Lester walk

in. He waives him over.

BAD JACK:

Is it done? Connelly?

FLASHES OF LESTER FINDING HIS MEN DEAD AND THE WAGON EMPTY.

LESTER:

Course it’s done, Jack. You know

you can always count on me.

Jack shakes Lester with jubilation.

BAD JACK:

What a great f***ing day!

Lester can only fake joy, knowing the truth.

Destine watches from the stairs above with a full chalice of

liquor, keeping herself numb with drink. She stares with

blank eyes over the crowd.

INT. EMILY’S ROOM - NIGHT

Kieran wakes in a cast iron bed to Emily nursing his wounds.

KIERAN:

Have I...how long was I out?

44.

EMILY:

All day. Here.

She grabs a cup of water. Kieran sits up and takes a sip.

EMILY (CONT’D)

That man has caused me a lot of

grief. I don’t reckon he’ll be back

any time soon.

KIERAN:

I’m glad I could help, but I can’t

lay up here in your room. I have no

means to pay you.

EMILY:

You don’t worry about that.

KIERAN:

You can’t make any money with a

bloodied up Irishman in your bed.

Kieran stands up, but struggles to gain his bearings. Emily

looks with wonder at a man without judgement, only concern

for her pocketbook.

KIERAN (CONT’D)

I have to find a bare knuckle club.

Kieran stumbles and grabs the wardrobe for balance. Emily

runs to his aide.

KIERAN (CONT’D)

I’m going to become champion of

Philadelphia.

He gets woozy and Emily helps him back into her bed.

KIERAN (CONT’D)

I have to fight Bad Jack for the

title.

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