Sleepy Hollow Page #8

Ichabod sits staring at it, trance-like. Masbath waits.

Long silence.

ICHABOD:

The Lenape Indian had much to tell

once I opened his mouth.

YOUNG MASBATH:

How could he?

ICHABOD:

His teeth. Someone had cut them and

chipped off rotten pieces far back

in his mouth. The Lenape could not

have done that for himself.

(closes his journal)

Someone out there cared for him.

Ichabod rises, deciding. He picks up his satchel and exits.

Young Masbath is surprised. He follows.

EXT. WINDMILL -- DAY

A massive, wooden WINDMILL, raised off the ground on a 7'

center post. Ichabod and Masbath walk to it.

INT. WINDMILL -- DAY

Ichabod and Young Masbath enter via a ladder from the

underbelly. Gears and counter wheels turn millstones. A few

men work in the grain powder filled air.

Ichabod leads the way to a staircase, up twists and turns.

YOUNG MASBATH:

Where are we going?

ICHABOD:

Up.

EXT. WINDMILL ROOF -- DAY

Ichabod and Young Masbath climb out a door to the roof. The

rotors spin nearby. Ichabod searches the countryside.

Below, MANY MEN are ride up the long straight road.

ICHABOD:

What is it?

YOUNG MASBATH:

It's payment day. Loan monies are

given to Baltus the last day each

month. Almost everyone borrows...

for tools or to hire workers.

Ichabod sits, takes a bowl from his bag and gives it to

Masbath, then produces a bottle of water... fills the bowl.

ICHABOD:

(points)

Out there. What do you see?

YOUNG MASBATH:

The Western Woods.

ICHABOD:

Look again.

A plume of smoke rises from woods, far.

YOUNG MASBATH:

Smoke. Chimney smoke.

Ichabod holds a piece of straw in his mouth, rubs the point

of a sewing needle against a small BLACK ROCK.

ICHABOD:

Are you familiar with magnets?

YOUNG MASBATH:

What kind of nuts?

ICHABOD:

Not for eating, I assure you. Watch

here.

Ichabod shows the magnet grab the needle. Young Masbath is

amazed, reaching for it. Ichabod watches him play with it.

YOUNG MASBATH:

It's spectacular.

ICHABOD:

(smiles, pause)

Yes... I suppose it is. Keep it.

YOUNG MASBATH:

No, I couldn't...

ICHABOD:

I have others. All I need is this.

Ichabod takes the needle, poking its butt end into the tip of

the straw. Young Masbath studies the rock, pockets it.

YOUNG MASBATH:

Thank you.

ICHABOD:

(nods, almost shy)

Now, hold the bowl steady. Back to

business.

Young Masbath lifts the bowl. Ichabod drops in the

needle/straw which floats and turns compass-like.

ICHABOD:

If the Western Woods are truly the

Devil's Glen, we will see for

ourselves.

YOUNG MASBATH:

(uneasy)

Father said witches live there.

ICHABOD:

Witches do not exist. However...

Ichabod uses a knife to notch the bowl lip where the needle

points, then surveys the smoke, making a second notch.

ICHABOD:

Not long ago, I would have said the

same for Headless Horseman.

KATRINA (o.s.)

Constable... !

Katrina's on horseback below, unhappy.

KATRINA:

I need to speak with you. Alone.

EXT. VAN TASSEL GREAT LAWN -- DAY

Ichabod and Katrina lead their horses. A heated argument.

KATRINA:

Why would you do such a thing?

ICHABOD:

No stone may be left unturned. It

may appear harsh...

KATRINA:

I have misjudged you I think. I did

not imagine you were so cruel.

ICHABOD:

You are not regarding it in full.

The Widow Windsor had been run

through by a sword. I followed the

bloodless wound, a wound whose path

I could not comprehend till I had

seen the Horseman with my own eyes.

KATRINA:

What are you on about?

ICHABOD:

The child she carried was eight

months grown at least... near to

birthing. The sword had pierced its

tiny heart exactly.

KATRINA:

Must I hear this?

ICHABOD:

There was no blind stabbing. This

singular thrust found its target

omnipotently, as if the Horseman made

certain the unborn child died with

its mother.

KATRINA:

And this gives worth to butchery?

ICHABOD:

It was not butchery.

KATRINA:

What is it then? Scientific method?

How can any of this matter in the

slightest?

ICHABOD:

I have no solution for its meaning

yet, but I could not just ignore it.

KATRINA:

Take a lesson from Young Masbath's

desires, Ichabod Crane. He follows

with you to avenge his father's death.

That I understand. But, what do you

want?

ICHABOD:

To avenge his father, and the others.

KATRINA:

But, why? Tell me why.

Ichabod struggles for a reply.

KATRINA:

You falter with your answer because

you strive without putting the whole

of your heart into it. Can't you see?

You'll bring dignity to the dead even

if you have to chop them into little

pieces to do it.

ICHABOD:

(fed up, growing anger)

If it had been surgery on a living

person, done to save that person's

life, you would not question it. Not

for a moment. So, let me be the first

to tell you, dear girl... on the other

side of these sheltering mountains, a

whole world has advanced beyond such

plebeian thinking as yours. And

someday, no matter how much you fear

it, that world will come to roust

Sleepy Hollow out of its slumber.

Katrina storms away. Ichabod's already regretting.

EXT. BELLTOWER FIELD -- DAY

Ichabod and Young Masbath ride to the Western Woods, horses

loaded for expedition. At the Belltower remnants, Ichabod

slows, looking to the wreckage.

At forest's edge, Young Masbath waits.

Ichabod circles the tower. With a sigh, he rides to join

Young Masbath. They head into the woods.

EXT. WESTERN WOODS -- DAY

Dark, dense and creepy. Ichabod and Young Masbath move

through. Young Masbath halts his horse and looks around.

ICHABOD:

What is it?

YOUNG MASBATH:

Listen.

ICHABOD:

(listens, looks)

I hear nothing.

YOUNG MASBATH:

No crickets or cicadas calling. No

bird songs.

Stark quiet. Ichabod notes this unhappily.

EXT. WESTERN WOODS -- LATER DAY

Ichabod's hand drops the needle/straw in the water bowl. The

needle spins. The bowl is turned to match notches.

Ichabod points the way to Young Masbath.

ELSEWHERE, SOMEONE WATCHES: A MOVING P.O.V. WATCHES them as

they ride, FOLLOWS.

EXT. WESTERN WOODS, FURTHER ON -- LATER DAY

Ichabod and Masbath reach a hill crest. They stop, uneasy.

Below:
a CAVE with a rock archway. An ill-fitting door

covers the mouth. The chimney spews smoke.

ICHABOD:

We have apparently arrived.

EXT. CAVE HOME -- DAY

The horses are tied to a tree. Ichabod walks to the cave

door. Unsure, he hesitantly knocks.

INT. CAVE HOME -- DAY

Ichabod and Young Masbath step in.

Walls are hung with skins and skeletons, dry flowers and reed

grass in patterns. An OLD CRONE sits facing away.

The old Crone, a mountain woman with matted hair and grey

features, sits disinterested. Ichabod edges closer.

ICHABOD:

Pardon. You did not answer when I

knocked. Are we intruding?

OLD CRONE:

You are from the Hollow?

ICHABOD:

In a way, yes.

Ichabod looks at tables of gourd bowls of dead insects and

acorns. Knifes, scissors, yellow bones. He takes the

Lenape's piece of reed grass from his pocket.

ICHABOD:

The Lenape who lived in these woods...

do you know him? The Redman?

(uncomfortable wait)

I should tell you... he has been

murdered.

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