Silverado Page #2

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PADEN:

You got no idea what they were after?

Emmett shakes his head "no".

PADEN:

Offend anybody lately?

EMMETT:

Not for five years.

Paden understands.

PADEN:

Jefferson City?

EMMETT:

No, Leavenworth.

PADEN:

I've never been in there. They just

jumped you out of the blue?

EMMETT:

I had to get up anyway.

PADEN:

(smiles)

Me, I'm riding along, minding my own

business. Four cowboys come by and

we decide to ride together for a

while, friendly as can be. I always

figure you might as well approach

life like everybody's your friend or

nobody is... don't make much

difference. We get out in the middle

of that frying pan and suddenly

everybody's pointing their gun but

me. I guess they admired my horse.

She's a great one, a sweet little

bay.

EMMETT:

Looks like that's not all they

admired.

PADEN:

Yup. The whole rig. I don't care

much about the rest, but I surely

will miss that bay. Least they didn't

kill me. That was right considerate,

I thought. They were laughing when

they left me. Thought it was real

funny. I walked for a little while

but there was no use, so I gave it

up. Figured it was just bad luck.

Emmett comes over and fills Paden's coffee cup.

EMMETT:

Looks like those boys are headed

south, so they weren't the same ones

that jumped me. Which way you going?

PADEN:

Where's the pinto going?

EMMETT:

I gotta stop by Turley and meet a

guy.

PADEN:

Where's Turley?

EMMETT:

South of here, past Chimayo.

PADEN:

Maybe I'll go along as far as Chimayo.

Get me some clothes. Maybe a bath.

EMMETT:

Yeah, maybe a bath.

Emmett settles down at his saddle and pulls a blanket over

himself. Paden glances at the rifle in its scabbard on the

pinto's saddle by his head.

PADEN:

Is this loaded?

Emmett nods and closes his eyes. Paden smiles at the implied

trust and settles down himself.

EXT. APPROACHING CHIMAYO - DAY

Emmett and Paden, who is still clad only in longjohns, ride

toward the low, adobe settlement of Chimayo.

EXT. ENTERING CHIMAYO - DAY

Emmett and Paden enter the town past a cluster of teepees.

Three Cavalry troopers ride past them.

EXT. STREET - CHIMAYO - DAY

The little settlement is the center of civilization for miles

around. The U. S. Cavalry maintains an outpost here, and

there are many soldiers on the street. Emmett and Paden pull

up to the general store. Paden dismounts and hands his reins

to Emmett. Passersby look with curiosity at the undressed

Paden.

EMMETT:

I'll get these horses tended.

Paden nods and looks doubtfully at the store. He scratches

himself. Emmett produces some money and flips Paden a coin.

Paden nods.

PADEN:

I'm good for it.

Emmett rides up the street, leading the pinto. Paden starts

toward the store and nearly collides with a shocked woman,

who covers the eyes of the little girl with her and crosses

the street. Paden gives an apologetic tip to his non-existent

hat as he watches them go. Before he can turn back to the

store, his eye is caught by something up the street. He reacts

big.

WHAT HE SEES. His horse, a good-looking bay. And, dawdling

his way out of a saloon, a disreputable-looking Cowboy.

Paden's hand slaps his side, where his gun should be. He

grimaces and looks around desperately, then hurries into the

store.

INT. STORE - DAY

The lone CLERK is showing a woman customer a bolt of cloth

at the back of the store. Paden hurries in and makes a bee-

line to the display case holding handguns and ammo. He spots

something he likes and taps the glass impatiently. The Clerk

reacts with distaste to Paden's appearance.

PADEN:

Excuse me, there --

CLERK:

I'll be with you in a moment, sir.

Paden looks out the front window, up the street. The Cowboy

is untying the bay's reins.

Paden, more agitated now, glances back at the Clerk, then

moves around and opens the back of the display case. He

extracts a shiny, new Colt .45. The Clerk reacts with alarm

and moves toward Paden.

CLERK:

Just a minute there, fella. When I'm

done with this lady --

PADEN:

I'll take this one.

He drops his coin on the case top.

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