The Searchers Page #18

KEEFER:

(the dispassionate

pro)

I'd like you to see them all...It

might help us identify them...

Shot in the head -- flash-burn

range...The boy got his skull

cracked...Here's the girl...

Martin stiffens, waiting.

ETHAN:

No...

Martin relaxes...and in that instant the madwoman has

the doll in her hands. She cradles it and she croons.

Martin reaches to take it away. But she calmly sits,

cradling the doll, and rocks to and fro, humming a

lullaby. He can't take it. Ethan returns.

ETHAN:

Well, we only got the one lead --

Scar...And where we begin to look,

I don't know...

KEEFER:

There's one thing. We recovered

a bushel of trinkets in that camp...

cheap stuff...trade goods...Couldn't

help noticing that most of it was

Mexican...Maybe if you could talk to

some of those Mexican traders along

the border...What do they call

themselves?

ETHAN:

Comancheros...

KEEFER:

That's the breed...Course it might

take time.

ETHAN:

Time's running out...But I'm obliged

to you.

They leave.

CUT TO:

153INT. JORGENSEN KEEPING ROOM - FULL SHOT - THE GROUP -

EVENING:

Laurie has reached the last page of the letter, reading

it by the lamp on the table. Jorgensen is knocking out

the dead ashes of his pipe. Charlie is in the shadows,

a guitar in his hands -- not playing it, but occasionally

softly picking a note or chord. Mrs. Jorgensen is dabbing

moist eyes with a corner of her apron.

LAURIE:

...so we're setting out for

New Mexico Territory in the morning...

I am sorry I won't be back for

Christmas again this year...

She swallows hard, pauses a moment in her reading.

MRS. JORGENSEN

(quick sympathy)

And you knittin' that muffler...

LAURIE:

(impatiently)

What's the difference!

MRS. JORGENSEN

Well, I just thought it would be

a sin and a shame not to let

SOMEONE get some good of it...

She looks almost too obviously at Charlie, which annoys

Laurie. Laurie resumes her letter reading:

LAURIE:

(peering closely)

There's a word crossed out...It

looks like 'I wish' or 'I will'...

(she gives up)

Anyway...'I set pen aside in the hope

you are enjoying good health and your

folks the same...I remain, respectfully...

(forlornly)

yours truly, Martin Paulie.'

That's all there is. Not a cross on it. Laurie just

looks at it. Jorgensen stands, pocketing his pipe,

easing the crick in his back. He ceremoniously removes

the spectacles and replaces them on the mantel.

JORGENSEN:

They never find that girl.

LAURIE:

(half to herself)

Yours truly...

(hotly)

And he even has to write his full

name...Martin Pauley...not even

just Martie!...

(she stands)

I don't care if he never comes

back!

She heads for the front door.

MRS. JORGENSEN

(rising -- saying it

without conviction)

Now, Laurie!...

Charlie hits the guitar a little stronger. Mrs. Jorgensen

looks at him -- and the matchmaker is at work.

MRS. JORGENSEN

Charlie, you'll stay for supper?...

Now I won't take no for an answer.

CHARLIE:

Thought of saying 'no' never crossed

my mind, Miz Jorgensen...No place

I'd rather be than right here,

right now.

Mrs. Jorgensen smiles and moves about her duties. Laurie

has opened the door and is staring out wistfully...and

Charlie begins playing and singing a verse from

"Skip to My Lou."

CHARLIE:

(singing)

One old boot and a button shoe

One old boot and a button shoe...

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

154EXT. DESERT COUNTRY - WIDE ANGLE - ETHAN AND MARTIN

RIDING - DAY

The search theme is heard again as the two riders, with

single pack horse, are heading south through New Mexico.

It is hot country.

155EXT. DESERT COUNTRY - CLOSE MOVING SHOT - ETHAN AND MARTIN

- DAY

Their faces are sun-tanned, burned dark and dry. Gone are

the heavy coats and clothing of their northern days. They

do not speak, just ride -- and there is the same bleak,

fanatic, hard look about them both. The music theme segues

into something livelier and Mexican as we -

DISSOLVE TO:

156EXT. A MEXICAN VILLAGE - FULL SHOT - ETHAN AND MARTIN - DAY

It is a small place -- a single dirt street, a few adobe

houses; a few racks of dried meat; a burro with a load of

faggots on its back being driven along by a small boy; the

music coming from a little cantina in the middle of the

street. Before the cantina is a bone rack of a horse,

without a saddle -- only a blanket pad. There is some-

thing familiar about the horse and Ethan is staring at

it as they ride in.

157EXT. THE CANTINA - FULL SHOT - DAY

The two men dismount, beating dust out of their clothes.

Ethan takes another look at the sorry old nag tied outside.

Martin pauses beside Ethan.

ETHAN:

Recognize it?

Martin shakes his head. They start toward the cantina.

ETHAN:

There couldn't be two like that

in all the world...

158INT. THE CANTINA - FULL SHOT - DAY

as Ethan and Martin enter. It is a dirt-floored room with

a small bar near the door, chairs and benches along the

walls. A pair of guitar players are at the far end of the

room. A couple of Mexicans are playing a noisy game of

dominoes, slapping the dominoes down hard...EMILIO

FIGUEROA, back to the door, spurred boots across one of

the tables, is sipping a drink. Emilio is a cynical,

middle-aged, aristocratic-looking man in modified charro

costume. Watching the domino game is ESTRELLA, lithe,

sensuous, smoking a brown-paper cigarette; she is bare-

foot. Behind the bar is the proprietor, dozing on his

stool. Ethan takes a step into the room.

ETHAN:

(loudly)

MOSE!....MOSE HARPER?

The proprietor awakens. The domino game is suspended in

mid-play. Estrella turns...and from beside Emilio, pre-

viously obscured by the man's back and the big charro

hat, pokes the head of old Mose. Emilio turns then to

look at the newcomers.

MOSE:

Ay-eh...?

He is on his feet and advancing to meet them. As he recog-

nizes them a wide, foolish grin splits his face and his

mouth opens and closes in words that won't come out. He

grabs and shakes Ethan's arm, then Martin's.

ETHAN:

Leggo my arm...You look mangier

'n ever.

MOSE:

Ain't been too good...No sir, not

too good...Gettin' old, Ethan...

ETHAN:

You were born old...

PROPRIETOR:

(all smiles - as they

head for the bar)

Bienvenidos, senores...Pulque?...

tequila?...mescal?...huiskey?

ETHAN:

Tequila...

MARTIN:

Lo mismo.

PROPRIETOR:

(beaming)

Y' par' el Viejo -- el vino del

pais...tequila tambien!

Martin puts his back to the bar, leans elbows on it and

looks around.

158AINT. THE CANTINA - ANGLING PAST MARTIN TOWARD ESTRELLA

She is giving him an appraising once-over, then signals

the musicians to play. She rests her buttocks against a

table and waits, her eyes challenging Martin to make a

move. Emilio is watching Estrella and Martin with some-

thing akin to bored amusement.

158BINT. THE CANTINA - ANGLE AT BAR

Ethan has poured a drink for Mose, now one for himself --

leaving Martin's glass empty.

MOSE:

I been helpin' ye, Ethan...I been

lookin' all the time...

Martin turns back to the bar to take his glass. He finds

it empty.

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