Klondike Page #19

GOODMAN:

War.

Doesn’t want to talk about it. Goodman drinks, stares with

moist eyes at the tools he just gave Bill.

During this interlude, people have been talking around him.

The conversation has grown heated. Something being talked

about with great interest.

But it’s like listening to people talking in a foreign

language, they’ve been in each other’s company so long.

We hear disparate phrases. “Justice for hire...” Gorna:

“Ain’t live up to heaven.”

BILL:

What’re they talking about?

Meekor has just sat heavily down beside Bill with his chow.

MEEKOR:

Law coming to town tomorrow.

BILL:

(stunned)

What law?

MEEKOR:

Mounties from Canada.

YOUNG MINER:

(grins)

Gonna crack down on us sinners.

Bill stares through a slit in the wall boards.

THROUGH THE SLIT

we make out A FULL MOON hanging over Dawson... where justice

is perhaps on its way.

ON BILL:

There’s a new (hopeful) fire in Bill’s eyes.

CUT TO:

A BIG PLUMP HORSE TURD

dropping onto the muddy street. We are:

34.

EXT. DAWSON - DAY

OUR VIEW rises from the steaming horse turd to its owner. Not

a horse actually, but a burro. Just larger than a dog really.

ATOP THE BURRO:

sits INSPECTOR STEELE (50s), a tall man dressed in full

Mountie uniform, including the famous puffy fur hat. Handlebar

mustache. Hard metallic eyes. He rides, stately and

erect.

King of the fools.

A SQUADRON OF MOUNTIES march behind him.

A number of townspeople have gathered on the edges of the

street, watching this bizarre parade... and drinking.

A male bystander takes a grab at Sabine’s ass. Sabine slaps

him away...

... moves of with great dignity. Making a big show of being

above this tomfoolery. Above all of this.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE MOUNTIES HEADQUARTERS - DAY

The Mounties are in the midst of building their

headquarters... and the barracks behind it. All are dressed

in their distinctive red British Army Jackets, and breeches.

ON STEELE:

moving through the area, occasionally giving a directive,

eyes serious. They’re always serious. Flanked by two Mounties

carrying SHOTGUNS.

A MOUNTIE approaches Steele, says something discreetly to

him. Steele turns to see...

BILL:

at the forefront of a crowd of residents here with their

petty problems. Two mounties are holding them back. Bill has

clearly been arguing with them.

Steele makes a gesture and the mounties move aside to let

Bill in.

INT. HEADQUARTERS - A BIT LATER

Steele sits at his desk now, a Mountie on either side of him.

One of the mounties busily scribbles notes.

35.

Bill sits across the desk. Steele appears to be taking Bill

very seriously.

STEELE:

When did this murder take place?

Hurls all his contempt into the word “murder.” He seems to be

angry on Bill’s behalf.

BILL:

Yesterday. We had just staked our

claim. Uphill from the river.

Steele reacts as if he’s just been hit in the face. Goes back

to being poker-faced.

STEELE:

You say the shot came from the

North east?

BILL:

It’s where I saw the smoke.

One of the seated Mounties confers with Steele quietly.

Steele nods.

STEELE:

Rifle shot?

Bill nods. What the hell is going on?

STEELE (CONT’D)

Likely the Tlingits.

Never has a man seemed more sure of himself.

STEELE (CONT’D)

Two specimens of that tribe were

seen near where your friend was

killed. They will be found.

BILL:

Tlingits?

STEELE:

The Indian tribe that used to

dominate this region. In their

savage ignorance, they think this

land is theirs. They have an

invisible boundary, beyond which

folks who venture have been

harassed and threatened. I’m

referring to the hillside where you

and your friend Mr. Epstein staked

your claim.

36.

BILL:

(stunned realization)

The second we staked our claim we

were marked men?

Steele stares at Bill with his hard metallic eyes. Yes,

that’s what Steele thinks.

And thinking and knowing is the same for Steele.

SMASH CUT TO:

ANGLE ON BILL:

walking fast down the main street of Dawson--an extra charge

in his eyes now. Jack London sidles up to him. Keeps pace

with difficulty.

JACK:

I might be able to help you in your

newest endeavor. Hear you’re

heading for the Tlingit camp.

BILL:

Your information is correct.

JACK:

I’m told they’re just East of Wolf

Paw trail.

Jack’s beginning to get out of breath keeping pace with Bill.

JACK (CONT’D)

It’ll be my pleasure to guide you there.

Bill whirls on him.

BILL:

Why? To fill more scribbles in your

notebook. This is my battle.

JACK:

You’ll need someone who can speak Tlingit.

Bill stares at him. His eyes are harrowed. The moment of

truth is coming. He nods, charging forward...

... Jack hurrying to keep pace.

ACT OUT:

37.

ACT FOUR:

EXT. BELINDA’S LUMBER MILL - DAY

Father Judge has just bought lumber, and finished loading it

into his cart.

He heads down the street, when suddenly the Count steps out

in front of him. SEVERAL EMPLOYEES of the Count’s stand

beside him. Threat in their eyes.

COUNT:

Looks like our conversation earlier

did not make enough of an

impression, your holiness.

FATHER JUDGE:

I am not holy. I am a servant of

God.

Father Judge tries to move on, but the Count puts a hand to

his chest. The time for subtext is over.

COUNT:

Let me make this very clear, your

holiness. If you do not leave your

dry goods store by tonight, you

will not live to see the morning.

Glances at A MOUNTIE passing on the street.

COUNT (CONT’D)

Possibly the presence of these

ponces masquerading as the law

embolden you.

The Count moves so close to father Judge we can practically

smell his whiskey breath.

COUNT (CONT’D)

I have money and power. If the

Canucks come after me, they will

meet the same fate as you. And

their blood will be on your hands.

You will be the hand that kills

them. I will just be, as you say,

the servant.

He turns and walks off with his men.

CLOSE ON BELINDA

watching this exchange from the lumber site. She has her own

compelling interest in this affair.

38.

ON FATHER JUDGE:

moving down the street, eyes searing, rimmed in red. LOUD

ANGRY BUZZING comes on the soundtrack as if coming from the

raging emotions inside Father Judge’s head.

SMASH CUT TO:

WIDE VIEW - TWO TINY FIGURES

walk in the valley between snow-capped mountains... followed by

moving black clouds of mosquitos--the source of the buzzing.

CLOSER - MEN

The BUZZING is insanely loud inside this insect war zone.

Bill and Jack have smeared their faces with clay against the

flying predators.

JACK:

Whatchu gonna do you deem the

savages guilty?

BILL:

(searing)

The first thing is to know.

Bill is lost in thought. A man with one direction right now.

BILL (CONT’D)

Have you seen the tribe’s leader?

JACK:

Know of him. A half breed. They say

his white ma threw him in the woods

when he was born. He survived two

weeks in the snow and frost until

his tribe found him. Legend is he

thrived on rage. Rage instead of

mama’s milk. Grew strong on it and

is now their leader.

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