Maverick Page #8

trying to get balance as we -COOP

AND ANNABELLE:

She is horrified by what could happen.

Coop moves quickly forward --he's close enough to reach

out a hand to Maverick -

--only he doesn't. He just stands there, idly watching

as we -

MAVERICK:

and he is not a happy camper -

CLIFF DROP:

Horrendous.

COOP:

curious as to just what's going to happen. Annabelle,

distraught, puts her hands over her eyes.

(CONTINUED)

46.

45 CONTINUED:
45

MAVERICK:

windmilling in desperation --and for a moment it looks

like he's not going to make it -

--but finally he does, pitching forward safely to the

ground.

COOP:

(now he extends a

hand)

Let me help you.

MAVERICK:

(glaring up)

You've done too much already.

He gets to his feet. Still out of breath, he looks at

the stage.

MAVERICK:

What's with the wheel?

COOP:

Turns out I was wrong --wheel

was fine all along.

ANNABELLE:

He was doing you a favor --don't

you feel a whole lot better about

yourself now that you've done

something brave?

MAVERICK:

There is a pause. Then, smiling amiably back at Coop -

MAVERICK:

Oh, I get it, this was for my

benefit. To help me. Build

character.

COOP:

Exactly.

MAVERICK:

(shakes his head)

Funny, you'd think I'd be mad.

ANNABELLE:

Look at him --bursting with pride.

MAVERICK:

One thing though?

(CONTINUED)

47.

45 CONTINUED:
(2) 45

Coop looks at him --as Maverick does his lightning draw,

c*cks his pistol, aims it at Coop's head --he could

almost shoot.

MAVERICK:

Try not to help me again!

From that -

46 EXT. GRAVESITE -AFTERNOON 46

A freshly covered-over grave. Maverick and Coop are covered

with sweat from the digging. Annabelle is with

them.

It's later in the afternoon now.

COOP:

I suppose somebody ought to say

something nice about the

deceased.

ANNABELLE:

How do we know he was nice? We

don't know anything about him.

All he had in his wallet was the

names of some whorehouses.

And now, O.S., the sound Maverick's voice in song -

MAVERICK:

who has started into "Amazing Grace" -

--and the shocker is this: Not that the song is gorgeous,

it's one of the most beautiful songs ever written

--no, the stunner is that Maverick can really sing.

A strong, firm voice echoing out over the rough land.

MAVERICK:

'Amazing Grace

How sweet the sound...'

--and now, surprisingly, Coop joins in. And here's

something else you didn't expect: He can sing too.

COOP/MAVERICK

(in harmony)

'... that saved a wretch like

me...'

(CONTINUED)

MAVERICK -Rev. 11/15/93 48.

46 CONTINUED:
46

And now Annabelle, touched by what's happening, joins

them, her voice high and lovely.

ANNABELLE/COOP/MAVERICK

'... I once was lost

But now I'm found...' *

And now, as they come to the end of the first verse,

Annabelle sings different words from the men. She

realizes her mistake, stops, and listens to them.

COOP/MAVERICK

'... was bound...'

ANNABELLE:

'... was blind...'

Here she stops, lets them sing in harmony the last line.

COOP/MAVERICK

'... but now I'm free...'

COOP/MAVERICK/ANNABELLE

'Twas grace that taught my heart *

to fear, *

And grace my fears relieved, *

How precious did that grace appear, *

The hour I first believed...' *

'Through many dangers,

toils and snares,

I have already come.

Tis Grace hath brought me safe *

thus far.

And Grace will lead me home.'

They all stand close together as the ECHO OF the SONG

DIES. Then -*

46A EXT. TELEGRAPH WIRES -AFTERNOON 46A

CAMERA PANS ALONG telegraph wires TO a small telegraph

office.

46B HAND 46B

reaches across counter and accepts a telegram.

CLOSE ON TELEGRAM

It reads:
"Don't let him (Maverick) reach St. Louis *

(the game)." *

47 OMITTED 47

thru thru

49 49

MAVERICK -Rev. 8/31/93 49. *

50 50

EXT. WAGON TRAIN -AREA #1

The stagecoach, moving along as before, when ---

there is the sudden sound of HIGH PITCHED SOBBING ---

as the stagecoach takes a turn in the road we see -SEVERAL

COVERED WAGONS:

Just the most pathetic sight. Filled with widows and

children in tears. Several wounded men. Two of the

wagons are smoldering and burned.

Coop vaults to the ground, hurries to the wagons as

Maverick brings the stagecoach to a halt.

COOP:

is talking with several women from the wagon train.

MAVERICK AND ANNABELLE

on the coach, watching. Annabelle silently gets out a

flask, takes a pull of whisky, offers some to Maverick.

He shakes his head. She shrugs, takes another pull, puts

the flask away.

COOP:

returning to the stage with a RAWBONED WOMAN and a

PIONEER WOMAN.

COOP:

They got hit by Indians -RAWBONED

WOMAN:

(a little hysterical)

It was horrible. Those Indians snuck

up behind us, and... and...

MAVERICK:

It wasn't Indians.

RAWBONED WOMAN:

They were in war paint and screamin'

and yellin'...

COOP:

I told 'em we'd take 'em back to

Crystal City...

Annabelle and the two Women discuss aside the details of

the attack; meanwhile Maverick and Coop:

(CONTINUED)

MAVERICK -Rev. 8/31/93 50. *

50 50

CONTINUED:

MAVERICK:

(overlapping and

under his breath)

Uh --that's backtrackin' a little,

ain't it?

COOP:

Just a day.

Maverick rolls his eyes.

MAVERICK:

(sotto)

Look, I really got a poker game...

RAWBONED WOMAN:

(starting to cry)

... and they wounded our men and

they burned our wagons...

MAVERICK:

(sotto)

Uh, Coop...

RAWBONED WOMAN:

(continuing the

description)

... And they shot our horses and

they took the wagon with all of

our money...

MAVERICK:

(turning)

Money?

RAWBONED WOMAN:

(sobbing)

... and my baby's music box -

OTHER WOMAN:

They even took my wedding dress.

MAVERICK:

(beat)

Go back to the money part.

The Woman continues to wail.

COOP:

Jesus, Maverick.

MAVERICK:

(mock understanding)

Ma'am, how much money exactly?

(CONTINUED)

MAVERICK -Rev. 8/31/93 51. *

50 CONTINUED:
(2)

ANNABELLE:

Jesus, Maverick.

Annabelle cuts in front of them.

ANNABELLE:

(dripping with

understanding)

Ma'am, how much money exactly?

BOTH WOMEN:

(sniffling in unison)

Thirty thousand dollars.

There is dead silence for a beat before Maverick and

Annabelle climb right in her face, yammering simultaneously.

None of the words are intelligable.

MAVERICK:

Ma'am, if I can get your thirty

thousand dollars back, is it

worth ten percent to you?

RAWBONED WOMAN:

Five percent?

OTHER WOMAN:

(sniffling)

Whatever you want.

ANNABELLE:

Jesus, what kind of animal are you?

COOP:

Vulture!

RAWBONED WOMAN:

You think you could?

MAVERICK:

(confident)

Well, ma'am, I think that -

ANNABELLE:

You bet we could!

Maverick looks over at her and says...

MAVERICK:

What's this 'we' sh*t?

(CONTINUED)

MAVERICK -Rev. 8/31/93 52. *

50 CONTINUED:
(3) 50

RAWGONED WOMAN:

For your ten percent, I want you to

make those savages pay for what

they done!

MAVERICK:

Ma'am, there are no hostiles in

this area.

Suddenly they are enveloped in booming sounds which are

instantly recognizable as Indian WAR DRUMS.

CUT TO:

51

thru

55C

OMITTED 51

thru

55C

56 EXT. TRACKING AREA #1 -DAY 56

Maverick sneaks through the brush with Annabelle at his

side. Coop follows a step or two behind leading the

horses. He keeps his eyes pealed as they track.

MAVERICK:

These ponies have been shod.

Indians don't shoe their horses.

ANNABELLE:

They could have been stolen.

What's with you and Indians

anyway?

MAVERICK:

Yeah, you're right. They're just

a bunch of theives and savages.

Don't get me wrong. I mean we've

given them smallpox blankets. I

figure they deserved it for being

on our land before we got here.

What are you doing here anyway?

ANNABELLE:

I'm your partner. Fifty-fifty.

COOP:

(nobly)

Sounds like fifty-fifty to me.

MAVERICK:

And what are you tagging along

for? You want fifty percent too?

(CONTINUED)

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