Klondike Page #15

BILL:

(emotionally)

Yes he was.

Belinda moves toward him. She takes his hand in hers.

BELINDA:

(almost to herself)

I haven’t had many true friends.

She touches her whole palm to his chest. Feeling him. Not

really sexual... but a touch is a touch.

BELINDA (CONT’D)

(means it)

Good friends are more valuable than

gold.

Belinda moves off. She likes making her own exit rather than

being exited upon.

11.

EXT. DRY GOODS STORE - DAY

The door opens to reveal Father Judge, face red from work.

Behind him, we see shelves smashed, new lumber stacked. He’s

building his church.

Bill stands before him. Father Judge stares intensely at him,

as if trying to figure him out.

BILL:

You’ve probably heard that my

friend is no more.

JUDGE:

I have heard.

BILL:

If it’s not too much trouble,

Father, would you conduct a

ceremony over his grave? It would

be very meaningful to his family...

and to me.

Father Judge hesitates. Compassion in his eyes.

FATHER JUDGE:

I can’t do a Christian rite for a

Jew...

Bill’s upbringing allows no disrespect for a member of the

church.

BILL:

I understand.

He turns away , trying not to show his anger. Father Judge

holds him back with the rest of his sentence.

FATHER JUDGE:

... But I will perform the Jewish

rite of Kaddish.

Bill stares at Father Judge. This is the first real human

moment he’s had since Epstein died.

And it brings tears to his eyes.

CUT TO:

ANGLE ON EPSTEIN

lying on a block of ice at the end of the dry goods store.

Bill touches Epstein’s cold face. Possibly his last touch.

And then he does what he’s been avoiding doing. He reaches

into the lining of Epstein’s vest.

12.

All the blood leaves Bill’s face. Bill frantically checks

Epstein’s other pockets.

FATHER JUDGE (CONT’D)

What are you looking for, son?

Bill stares at father Judge but he isn’t listening. He

hurries off. Father Judge’s eyes are searing.

FATHER JUDGE (CONT’D)

God has been aloof. The hands of

men have battered you. Take heed

when god touches you.

SMASH CUT TO:

INT. BILL AND EPSTEIN’S TENT - LATER

Bill frantically whips through the tent, checking every

possible hiding place. Shakes out the sleep wear. Empties the

packs. Rushes outside.

EXT. CLAIM - SAME TIME

Bill searches the outside environs. Examines the saddlebags

on Loco (he and Epstein’s donkey. Turns, sensing something.

A FEW FEET AWAY:

A MAN sits with his back against a tree. Big brown mustache,

crinkled blue eyes, smoking a corn-cob pipe. Like one of

those faces from a Klondike photo. MEEKOR.

He seems to be enjoying the day.

MEEKOR:

(casually)

You smoke?

Bill stares at him, wide-eyed, rattled.

BILL:

No, I do not.

Goes back to searching.

MEEKOR:

Should take it up. Helps with the

mosquitos.

Bill is running out of areas to search.

MEEKOR (CONT’D)

(faintest interest)

What you looking for?

13.

Bill responds without looking up.

BILL:

My partner’s claim.

MEEKOR:

(nods)

Got it.

Bill rummages around the spent fire... is totally caught up

in his search. Slowly stops. Looks back up at Meekor.

BILL:

That mean you understand what I

just said?

MEEKOR:

Nope. Got it.

He produces the claim from his vest pocket.

Bill lunges at Meekor. Pushes him up against the tree.

BILL:

You take it out of a dead man’s

pockets?

Meekor doesn’t seem the tiniest bit rattled.

MEEKOR:

No, sir. Wouldn’t do that.

Bill lets him go. He stares at Meekor as if staring at

someone not quite of this world.

BILL:

Stay right there.

Bill backs up toward his tent without taking his eyes off

Meekor. Reaches in... fumbles around, pulls out a pistol.

Something stops Bill from actually pointing it at Meekor

though. He holds it at his side. Threat enough.

BILL (CONT’D)

I’m going to give you exactly three

seconds to tell me how you got a

hold of that claim.

MEEKOR:

Don’t know if I can do that in

three seconds.

Bill’s eyes widen with growing frustration.

BILL:

You can take more time.

14.

MEEKOR:

Around yesterday, your partner, Mr.

Epstein, came into a loan shop for

a loan. For supplies and such.

BILL:

And the owner of the loan shop took

his claim for collateral? That it?!

Meekor is a bit thrown by Bill’s genius.

MEEKOR:

Answers come faster when the

questioner helps ‘em along I guess.

BILL:

And you have some kind of

controlling interest in this loan

shop?

MEEKOR:

Control and interest are two

separate things in my book. I’m

interested in fish... but can’t

make ‘em bite.

Getting answers from Meekor is like punching a marshmallow.

BILL:

Who do you work for?

MEEKOR:

I don’t work for anyone. Just do

things on my own that people pay me

for.

Meekor’s logic is starting to make Bill’s head explode. He is

close to doing violence to him.

BILL:

Who owns the goddam loan shop?

MEEKOR:

Would have saved some time you’d

asked that question to begin with.

Since you’re in such a hurry.

He is in the process of re-lighting his pipe. It takes a

moment.

MEEKOR (CONT’D)

Belinda Mulroney owns the loan shop

and thus, your partner’s half of

the claim, which I am being paid to

work.

15.

BILL:

So Belinda’s my new partner.

(eyes searing)

Convenient for her my first partner

got killed.

ACT OUT:

16.

ACT THREE:

A BLACK SKY:

glowers over the infinite expanse of Spruce and rock that is

Alaska in spring. A human-less wilderness of virgin nature.

God’s country...

... and God is angry. Thunder BOOMS as...

DIAGONAL SHEETS OF RAIN

puncture a million holes in the water of the Klondike river.

ON THE BANKS OF THE ROILING RIVER

the miners look tiny, putting up sandbags--a bulwark against

flooding.

The rain connects everything. It consumes the universe.

THE CEMETERY:

is a furiously pocked pond, grave stones sticking out like

teeth in a huge mouth.

ON BILL:

moving quickly through the street of Dawson. Rain-slammed...

but so consumed with his mission of the moment, he hardly

notices.

He passes Jack London heading in the opposite direction,

holding up a ladies parasol, his mangy dog walking beside

him. Yes, a ladies parasol.

Jack sees Bill and does an about face. Walks with Bill,

holding the parasol over both of them.

JACK LONDON:

The man of the moment. Man who can

put me in liquor for a week.

(thinks better of it)

A few days anyway.

BILL:

How can I help you?

(amused despite himself)

You know that thing doesn’t work?

It’s paper.

Referring to the parasol... water gushing right through.

JACK:

Gives me something to blame for

getting wet though. Which way do I

bet, friend?

(MORE)

17.

JACK (CONT'D)

Soapy has a pool going. One says

you’re staying in Dawson. The other

says you’re gone on the next boat.

Remember, I’m no good without my

liquor and I am the closest thing

to civilization for ten thousand

miles. Civilization depends on your

answer.

BILL:

What are the odds?

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