Maverick Page #6

MAVERICK -Rev. 11/15/93 32. *

28 CONTINUED:
(3)

ANNABELLE:

(a glance at

Maverick)

I don't know what this ruffian

would have done to me if it had

just been the two of us alone

on the stage.

COOP:

I hope you can relax and enjoy

the journey now.

(helps Annabelle

into coach)

Here's my feeling --if there

wern't any women, we wouldn't

be here.

MAVERICK:

What kind of sense does that make?

If there weren't any men, we

wouldn't be here either.

COOP:

He studies Maverick a moment. Then --very flat -

COOP:

Are you mocking me?

MAVERICK:

Before I answer, does it bother

you?

COOP:

I can get ruffled.

MAVERICK:

We don't want you ruffled. Why

don't we just say I was agreeing

with you in a totally unusual way.

As they study each other --Annabelle leans out of the

coach.

ANNABELLE:

(a smile to Coop,

her deepest Southern

drawl)

What would the world be without

true gentlemen like yourself?

(CONTINUED)

MAVERICK -Rev. 11/15/93 33.

28 CONTINUED:
(4) 28

A corpse walks up. Obviously, not an actual corpse, just

the most SICKLY-LOOKING MAN you ever saw. He heads for

the stage.

Maverick opens the door for him.

SICKLY-LOOKING MAN

(pointing up to

the front)

I'm the driver.

You okay?

MAVERICK:

SICKLY-LOOKING MAN

Why are people always asking me

that?

(holding out

a shaky hand)

Help me up, son, or we'll never

get a move on.

Maverick jumps nimbly up to the seat, starts to pull

the driver up --it isn't easy, but the old guy gets

there. Maverick and the Driver AD LIB about getting

up on stage.

*

*

DRIVER:

in his seat now, the reins in his hands.

gets down.

Maverick

29 OMITTED 29

30 EXT. FERRY CROSSING -DAY 30

The stage, on the ferry, moves down the river away

from Crystal River. HOLD briefly, then -31

OMITTED 31

32 INT. STAGECOACH (ON FERRY) -DAY 32

A deck of cards.

with one hand.

It is being manipulated dazzlingly

Then the deck is put in the other hand.

is just as skilled.

The manipulation

Outside, the water flows by as the ferry moves ahead.

Annabelle gets out of the stage and moves to Maverick

and Coop.

*

*

(CONTINUED)

MAVERICK -Rev. 11/15/93 34.

32 CONTINUED:
32

ANNABELLE AND COOP

*

ANNABELLE:

I think it's time we got to know

each other. Mister Maverick here

has aspirations toward someday

being a card player.

*

*

MAVERICK:

standing.

cards.

Makes no reply. Just continues with the *

THREE OF THEM:

COOP:

I'm not totally ignorant of cards.

Can't be in my line of work.

ANNABELLE:

And pray what might that be?

Lawman.

COOP:

ANNABELLE:

(looking up at

him, in awe)

I'll bet you're the best there is.

I can tell things about a man.

MAVERICK:

I can't quite place your accent,

Mrs. Bransford. What part of the

South you from?

*

ANNABELLE:

Ever been to Mobile?

No.

MAVERICK:

ANNABELLE:

Well, I'm from Mobile.

*

MAVERICK:

Oh, you mean Mobile, Alabama --I

been there --betcha we know lots

of the same people, you start.

(CONTINUED)

MAVERICK -Rev. 11/15/93 35.

32 CONTINUED:
(2)

ANNABELLE:

(suddenly near tears;

buries her head in

Coop's shoulder)

I've tried so hard to forget that

place -(

now she looks up

longingly at him)

--I endured such personal tragedy

there.

Maverick claps his hands. *

Bravo.

MAVERICK:

COOP:

A woman's suffering's not a funny

thing.

(beat)

Bertie.

MAVERICK:

There are exceptions.

billfold.

Watch your

*

*

*

Coop and Maverick stare at one another. You get the

feeling they're not going off on vacations together.

HOLD. Then -*

33

&

34

OMITTED 33

&

34

35 EXT. FERRY LANDING -DAY 35

Ramp splashes down into river.

Timberrr...

DRIVER:

The horses splash into water and up the banks --pulling

hard on the stagecoach as it moves down the valley.

35A EXT. DESERT MOUNTAIN AREA -DAY 35A

The stagecoach moves down the road past majestic rock

formations.

MAVERICK -Rev. 11/15/93 36.

36 INT. STAGECOACH -DAY 36

Annabelle has been flirting, drawing Coop out in conversation.

Maverick, still playing unconsciously with the

cards, can't help but listen.

ANNABELLE:

(gasping --caught

up in the story)

But how could you face them down?

Nine men, all of them armed.

*

*

COOP:

(might be his credo)

A man gives his word to do his

job, he's honor bound to do it. *

ANNABELLE:

But you must have been afraid.

A mite.

COOP:

*

ANNABELLE:

Mr. Maverick doesn't believe in

bravery.

MAVERICK:

Now, Mrs. Bransford, all I said was

I think it's overrated, and it

doesn't suit me.

*

*

COOP:

He smiles. He has, by the way, a wonderful smile.

COOP:

I just realized something.

What's that?

MAVERICK:

COOP:

You're spineless. *

I hope so.

this long.

MAVERICK:

It's kept me alive *

*

ANNABELLE:

Where would the world be if

everybody was like you?

(CONTINUED)

MAVERICK -Rev. 11/15/93 37.

36 36

CONTINUED:

MAVERICK:

World would be okay --have a lot

more poker tables, a lot less

violence. When I went to war, my

pappy said, 'Son, if you come back

with a medal, I'll kill you with

my bare hands.'

(beat)

Brought me up to be obedient.

ANNABELLE:

You were in the war, Mr. Maverick?

MAVERICK:

playing with the cards, staring out.

MAVERICK:

No, I was captured early, prisoner

for awhile, came out here and

scouted, brought in Geronimo once,

hell of a poker player. Helped

him get free once, he did belong

free.

*

ANNABELLE:

looking at him.

ANNABELLE:

I don't believe you. *

MAVERICK:

He was a wonderful poker player.

*

*

ANNABELLE:

I don't believe anything you say.

*

*

MAVERICK AND COOP

(looks at her -quietly)

Neither do I...

*

ANNABELLE:

Thank you for the hanky.

*

*

As Maverick stares out again -*

36A INT. CRYSTAL PALACE -MORNING 36A *

The Angel, in a foul mood, walking into the dimly lit

saloon. It's morning. He goes to the bar. The four

Bad Guys from the night before are laughing and eating

breakfast --eggs and coffee.

*

*

*

(CONTINUED)

38.

36A

CONTINUED:
36A

FOUR COWBOYS:

Maverick clobbered in the fight. They are down the bar

from The Angel. And they are the ones laughing. Clearly,

at him. As they whisper and their laughter builds -

THE ANGEL:

He takes his second drink which is now poured, drops it

down the hatch, and walks over to the Cowboys.

THE ANGEL:

(dead sober)

One question --are you, by any

chance, laughing at me?

LEAD COWBOY:

Heavens to Betsy, no.

Now they all four laugh again.

THE ANGEL:

I want to know the joke.

LEAD COWBOY:

You, a**hole.

THE ANGEL:

Explain that!

LEAD COWBOY:

Not unless you pay us one helluva

lot more than Maverick did.

And on that bit of information -CLOSEUP

-THE ANGEL

He's not taking this well.

THE ANGEL:

(hard to talk)

He paid you to fall down.

FOUR LARGE GUYS:

nodding.

LEAD GUY:

Paid us good too.

(CONTINUED)

39.

36A CONTINUED:
(2) 36A

THE ANGEL:

as he slowly rips off a piece of the bar and starts

swinging it, catching them off guard --it goes like a

streak this next ---

but what he does is cream each of them, they groan,

fall to the floor -THE

ANGEL:

(not even breathing

hard)

I'll let you fall down for free.

(he looks down at

the stunned

quartet)

Maverick was mine anyway...

(beat)

... 'cept now it's personal...

HOLD ON The Angel. Now -37

INT. STAGECOACH -MOVING FAST -DAY 37

Inside the stage. It's next afternoon. Both men doze.

ANNABELLE:

(shaking them --a

bit alarmed)

Do you think he's found a

shortcut?

38 EXT. DESOLATE COUNTRYSIDE -DAY 38

Clearly, the coach is out of control as it is flying down

the road.

They are going like hell across very rough country.

rocking inside is bad and getting worse as we -The

39 INT. STAGECOACH -DAY 39

Maverick and Coop, both sticking their heads out the

window, shouting at the driver.

40 EXT. STAGECOACH -DAY 40

The driver. Slumped in his seat. Limp. Eyes closed.

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