Maverick Page #2

The town and river look beautiful as the sun is going

down.

7.

14 INT. CRYSTAL PALACE -DUSK 14

The place is busy enough, the bar doing a brisk business.

A poker game is in session. Half a dozen play. A

cattlehand, a preacher, a small-time local businessman.

But it's the other three we pay most attention to.

First is a very young man. Late teens, looks less.

Thin. Small. A hundred and thirty pounds after a big

meal. This is THE KID. Seems ordinary.

Next to him sits, of all things, a woman. But not

ordinary, certainly not in these surroundings. She's

elegantly-dressed, close to being beautiful. She's

married, has a deep Southern accent, and hasn't been

poor for a long time. Maybe she's thirty. She seems

a rotten poker player, but a wonderful flirt. This

is ANNABELLE BRANSFORD.

Next to her sits The Angel. We met him already --he

tossed the burlap bag of rattlesnakes at Maverick just

before the hanging. Huge, powerful, not much makes him

smile, except winning at cards.

There is an empty seat at the table.

STAIRCASE:

as Maverick descends. If before he was grimy from

travel, he isn't anymore. He wears a black hat, a black

jacket, a black string tie -

--and just the most beautiful white lace shirt you ever

saw.

POKER GAME:

as Maverick approaches.

MAVERICK:

(indicating the

empty chair)

Taken?

ANNABELLE:

(lilting Southern

accent)

It is now.

(smiles at him)

My name is Annabelle Bransford.

And what do people call you?

MAVERICK:

Bret Maverick, ma'm.

And as he starts to sit -(

CONTINUED)

8.

14 CONTINUED:
14

THE ANGEL:

glaring at Maverick. (We know that within a week,

he'll hang Maverick. But they haven't met before.)

THE ANGEL:

I like the game the way it is.

MAVERICK:

I bring all kinds of plusses to

the table. I hardly ever bluff and

I never ever cheat.

THE ANGEL:

I don't believe it.

MAVERICK:

Neither do I.

THE ANGEL:

(voice rising, not

in pitch, but

intensity)

I like the game just the way it

is.

MAVERICK:

Bet I can change your mind.

(beat)

I promise to lose for at least

an hour.

THE ANGEL:

(without a pause)

We're playing five card draw.

As Maverick sits -

MAVERICK:

losing a hand to The Angel. The Angel smiles -

--but so does Maverick.

MAVERICK:

losing again, this time to Annabelle. She's happy -

--but again, so is Maverick.

And now we begin a SERIES of VERY QUICK CUTS.

Of The kid, holding his cards. Tightly.

(CONTINUED)

9.

14 CONTINUED:
(2)

14

Of the cattleman casually making a bet. Very casually.

Of Maverick, who doesn't seem to be paying much

attention.

He loses again, smiles.

Now the preacher is staring at his cards before betting.

For a long beat.

And the cattleman is fiddling with his chips.

The chips in front of The Angel are sloppy.

The chips in front of Annabelle are neatly stacked. She

flicks her fingernails against her front teeth, makes a

bet.

The businessman is toying with his necktie.

The Angel is holding his cards, moving the top to the

bottom, then repeating, the top to the bottom.

And Maverick loses again, smiles again, just happy to

be there.

Annabelle is suddenly helpless, giggling, staring at

what she's been dealt.

The Angel is smiling happily. He rakes in a pot.

The businessman's fingers are tapping on the table.

The Kid's hand covers his mouth.

The Angel is bored, looking neither at the other players

or the pot.

Annabelle bets big and wins --maybe she's not such a

rotten poker player after all.

Maverick tosses in his cards. Another loss. He smiles,

glances at the clock on the wall --an hour and a half

have gone by.

14A

EXT. CRYSTAL RIVER -TWILIGHT 14A

It is getting dark. Fewer people move about. A lamplighter

is at work; carriages pass with lanterns lit.

14B INT. CRYSTAL PALACE -TWILIGHT 14B

The table. Maverick and the kid are the last two in the

game. The kid turns his cards over.

(CONTINUED)

10.

14B CONTINUED:
14B

Two pair, aces over queens. Maverick has three sixes.

He looks at his winning hand almost in surprise. It's a

good sized pot he's won. As he reaches for it.

THE KID:

(mumbling something)

Don't think...

The rest is unintelligible.

MAVERICK:

Didn't get you.

THE KID:

I said I don't think that hand

should count.

MAVERICK:

You got any logical reasons going

for you?

THE KID:

My mind wasn't on the game.

His voice is always soft.

CLOSEUP -THE KID

He stares at Maverick and something is suddenly clear:

His eyes are deadly.

MAVERICK:

Hesitating now.

MAVERICK:

What's your name, son?

THE KID:

Johnny Hardin.

MAVERICK:

And what do you do for a living?

THE KID:

Oh, mostly I kill people. I'm a

gunfighter.

MAVERICK:

Since you're still alive, I have

to assume you're good at it.

THE KID:

Care to find out?

(CONTINUED)

11.

14B CONTINUED:
(2) 14B

MAVERICK:

(a beat --then)

This hand definitely does not

count.

(indicating chips)

Take whatever you think's yours,

I'll be content with the leavings.

As The Kid does -

ANNABELLE:

A quick look of disappointment crosses her face.

THE ANGEL:

A look of contempt crosses his.

THE ANGEL:

You always been gutless?

MAVERICK:

(thinks a minute -

then nods)

I think so. At least for as long

as I can remember. My pappy

always said, 'He who fights and

runs away, can run away another

day.'

(now he stands -like

every other

man in the room, he

wears a six gun)

Here's the truth --I don't see

what's so great about being brave.

Pulls back his black jacket, clearing his gun.

KID:

Watching. His hand begins to move to his gun.

ANNABELLE:

This is not a nice place.

TABLE:

All watching Maverick now.

(CONTINUED)

12.

14B CONTINUED:
(3) 14B

MAVERICK:

(chatting idly away)

See, you're a gunfighter and I'm

not, I like to play cards, so the

fact is, if I'd faced you down,

what chance would I have had?

Answer? Zero.

MAVERICK:

suddenly he draws --and it's lightning --you never saw

anyone so fast.

THE KID:

Stunned.

MAVERICK:

His voice casual.

MAVERICK:

No chance whatsoever.

And now he expertly twirls his gun back into its

holster.

ANNABELLE:

Leaning toward The Kid.

ANNABELLE:

Was that fast?

(as The Kid manages

a nod)

I thought it was fast.

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