Silverado Page #3

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CLERK:

(looking at coin)

That one's twenty dollars.

Paden is frustrated. He leans to peer out the window again.

PADEN:

How much to borrow it?

CLERK:

These guns are for sale.

PADEN:

(indicates his coin)

What can I get for that?

The Clerk gives up on putting him off and comes around the

display case, disgruntled.

EXT. IN FRONT OF SALOON - DAY

The Cowboy mounts the bay.

INT. STORE - DAY

Paden holds a broken-down memory of a gun as though it were

a cow chip.

PADEN:

(resigned)

What's it take?

The Clerk holds up a box of shells.

CLERK:

This is extra.

Paden snatches it from his grasp and heads out of the store.

PADEN:

I'll be back.

EXT. STREET - DAY

Paden hurries out into the middle of the street. Several

passersby stop to look at him. A teenage girl lets out a

delighted shriek.

IN FRONT OF THE SALOON. The Cowboy has turned the bay into

the middle of the street and now looks to see what all the

fuss is about. When he makes out Paden standing alone, his

expression changes.

Paden is having trouble extracting a shell from the ammo

box. He glances up the street at the Cowboy and sees that he

has been spotted. He shakes one shell loose and drops the

box, trying to insert the bullet in the gun.

The Cowboy pulls his six-gun, leans forward, and spurs the

bay hard toward Paden. He raises his gun and fires at Paden.

There is general alarm in the street as the bystanders dive

for cover.

Paden gets the shell loaded as the Cowboy bears down on him,

firing. The bullets kick up the dust in front and back of

Paden, who now raises his pistol slowly. A bullet tears

through the floppy material at his crotch. The Cowboy is

almost upon him when Paden fires. The Cowboy is knocked off

the horse and hits the street dead.

OMIT:

EXT. STREET - DAY

A big, tough Cavalry SERGEANT has been summoned by a TROOPER

and now walks briskly toward --

A small crowd gathered around Paden, who is affectionately

stroking his reacquired horse. Two troopers flank him

suspiciously. The Sergeant glances at the body of the Cowboy,

then pushes through the crowd and confronts Paden.

TROOPER:

(indicating Paden)

This is the man, Sergeant. He claims

the animal was stolen.

SERGEANT:

How do I know this is your horse?

The bay nuzzles Paden.

PADEN:

Can't you see this horse loves me?

SERGEANT:

I had a gal do that to me, but that

didn't make her my wife.

PADEN:

I'll tell you what, on the underside

of this saddle I got my name

scratched. Take a look and you'll

see.

SERGEANT:

Oh, yeah, and what would your name

be?

SHERIFF COBB (O.S.)

Paden.

The Sergeant and Paden both look to see COBB come through

the crowd; he is an imposing man in a duster. Paden's reaction

is deep and mixed, a whole chapter in his life coming back

at him.

PADEN:

(quietly)

Hello, Cobb.

SHERIFF COBB:

Hello, Paden. How ya doing?

SERGEANT:

You know this man, Cobb?

SHERIFF COBB:

I surely do.

SERGEANT:

(to troopers)

Let's see that saddle.

One of the troopers uncinches the saddle and flops it upside-

down in the dust. "Paden" is scratched on the underside.

SERGEANT:

(satisfied)

All right, move along, folks. Get

these children out of here.

The crowd begins to break up. Paden and Cobb are left facing

one another. Cobb takes in Paden's longjohns.

SHERIFF COBB:

I see you're prospering without me.

PADEN:

It's been a while.

SHERIFF COBB:

Where's the dog?

Paden's look pierces Cobb, but he bends to pick up his saddle

and when he straightens, there is a smile on his face.

OMIT:

EXT. SIDEWALK - DAY

Cobb and Paden come out of the general store and start down

the sidewalk. Paden is a little unsteady in a pair of cheap

boots. A small pile of clothing is in his arms. On his head

is a bad-looking new hat. He catches his reflection in a

window and tries to give the hat a rakish tilt.

PADEN:

Appreciate the loan. I'm good for

it.

SHERIFF COBB:

Let's talk about that.

(a beat)

I'm looking for some men.

PADEN:

I've given that up.

SHERIFF COBB:

So have I. I've got a legitimate job

now. I can use a guy like you.

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