The Shooting of Caribou Lou Page #4

Whatever you brought him along for,

one thing it ain't is for followin' sign...

or you wouldn't have had to shoot up

half the countryside to get him here.

So figurin' it that-a-way...

I ain't displaced and I'm

still earnin' my pay.

Well, hey. You got 'em in,

every one of 'em.

How 'bout that?

Hey, I got another one too...

but with a nigra's face,

you wanna try.

Good then. I hope we'll make an

effort now to all try and get along.

So we'll get started,

say, in three hours.

Say sunup.

Hey, look, miss. There's one of

them pretty little blue jay birds.

Make a wish. It's a

true sign of good luck.

How's that, Billy Spear?

Real sharp. Poor draw.

These are the last trees

you gonna see for a while.

So if you're plannin' to shoot

anything else up, then...

Yes, sir.

These here appear to be as

fresh as yesterday's, miss,

and there ain't no hurry to 'em.

Like they don't think they're bein'

followed and they don't care.

It shouldn't take us too much longer

to catch up to him, should it?

"Him," miss? I say "they."

The one we been followin' got joined

a little ways back by another.

These tracks is made by two horses.

Two men?

Well, let's go.

- Hold on, miss.

- Leave me alone, Gashade.

I can see the trail easily.

I don't even need you.

Billy!

Ain't you got no wipes?

Here. You can use mine.

Move along.

Hold up!

You can feel that, can't ya,

that horse goin' lame?

No, no. That ain't gonna make

no difference to the horse.

Gonna make a difference

to you, that's all...

bein' it's your grub you're

tossin' off, not mine.

You're willin' to destruct

everything, even yourself.

Quit with that.

I say somethin' to you?

I don't give a curly-hair, yellow-beard,

double-dog damn if you did.

I'm gonna blow your face off.

Two up on old Frazier?

Sure gonna be pretty nasty for him.

- You wanna walk?

- Nah, but hell.

Why wouldn't she get on behind me?

If you don't shake your mind loose of her,

I got no respect for you, damn it.

You don't remember her near

shootin' your head off?

- Will?

- What?

I got a funny feelin'. I don't

even know if to say or not.

Well, don't then.

Just try shuttin' up, damn it!

- I don't wanna lose this horse.

- Okay, okay, Willett.

I'm likely just

spookin' again anyhow.

Triple them wages and triple 'em again.

I ain't goin' that far.

You moo to me one more

time 'bout her...

and I'm gon' knock you

down without a word.

I wasn't talkin' about her.

Well, you went and give up your horse

to her so easy it makes me sick.

- And here you are now a burden to mine.

- I'm sorry, Willett.

Well, just shut up. I can't

take no more of ya. No, sir.

For all the dirty rotten

gall and hate of a thing...

that ought never above the

ground be called a woman.

No, sir.

I've lost it.

Will you please go ahead now?

Take on Coley then.

Light down and change the damn packs.

No! You take him.

You wanna ride with me, boy?

Leave him.

You better be japin'.

I ain't.

Mr. Gashade, it's not a bad idea.

We'll make better time,

and then we can come back for him.

You'll need this pack, Coley.

Take it off.

Will?

It's all right. You ain't stayin'.

You see? You see, just this minute,

he's taking up time.

I have to insist that he stays.

Come on. Get back up here, Coley.

He'll ride ya just fine.

You see the way of it, Coley?

You'll be all right here.

You just bide it easy.

I'll come back for you.

How long you think that'll be, Will?

Bring me over the guns, boy.

Not long.

They ain't got left

but one sack of grub.

And no way of knowin' it I ain't

gonna lead 'em straight into hell.

Move on.

Coley?

Find some shade.

Oh, wait, miss.

Can I get my things out of there?

Oh, I almost forgot.

- Thank you, Coley.

- It's all right.

See y'all later, I guess.

You wanna ride with me, boy?

Okay. I'd soon not get left

behind here like this.

How'd you like the way

I done Leland Drum?

Like I say, I'll blow it

off the first word out.

Go sit down over there.

And think on this:

Far as your voice gonna carry...

ain't too far for me to turn right

round and hit you in the eye.

Your brain gonna fry out here.

You know that?

Oh, Willett.

It's easier to stay behind.

If I let you go too, would you go?

Do you hear what I'm saying?

I could've left anytime.

I'm talking about now.

I got my reasons for stayin'.

Reasons?

There ain't gonna be no kill.

The reason, Mr. Gashade,

for a hunt is the kill.

Are you talkin' to me?

No, Billy.

Feel like you was.

It was just to myself.

I've read a person's thoughts.

Many times.

You never take those off, do you?

He talkin' to me?

Not even with a woman.

What'd he have to say?

He knows why you're here.

I wouldn't worry after

your friend, you know.

He's got a real relaxin'

time compared to us.

No, that's right. No worries.

He's where I want him, back there.

Clear and safe of you.

Look at that.

Wait! I'll go first now.

Billy, keep him back a way.

Who is he?

Ask her.

You know him?

She payin' you good for this?

Good as you.

Twice as much wouldn't buy you off.

Yeah, I figured you'd

likely do it for nothin'.

- Nearly nothin'.

- What for?

For her?

What does she mean to you?

She liked me.

You know anything about her?

Her name even?

Ask her.

What lies in that direction?

- More of the same.

- No, but beyond that.

- Kingsley.

- You're right.

Kingsley, Gashade, not hell.

What about him?

He don't interest you?

No, not now. His leg's broken.

- Who is he?

- Just a friend.

Friend?

- Like me and him.

- Yes, like you and Billy.

Where's his horse?

I don't see no horse.

He must have wandered away.

You thinking of Coley?

Yeah. He could've used it.

Bein' as you're leavin' that poor jay

a-layin' out there starin' up at the sun.

I left him some water.

Well, ain't that somethin'?

Why didn't you just shoot him?

Billy, did you ever

leave behind a friend?

I never did have one.

How about you, Willett?

It's different.

He's better off where he's at.

When?

This mornin'.

- Let's eat him.

- No, Billy.

You don't want any?

It's candy.

It's all I got to give. I'm sorry.

Don't mention it.

And I'm real sorry too I

can't help you none...

bein' as I gotta catch

'em as fast as I can.

Yonderly?

That way, you say.

What?

Oh, oh, sure. I-I'll be back for ya.

Me and Will.

I hate to leave ya layin', you know.

Oh, say.

Here now.

You take one of these too.

Which one'd you like?

That 'un?

I'm surprised. Most people

wouldn't have chose that 'un.

- What?

- Water. W...

I said it's all gone.

Quit with that. I don't

like that, what you're doin'.

This horse is goin'!

So's his!

How long to catch up?

That depends on who's gonna last.

Him or you?

Will!

Come back!

Coley, don't do it!

Why did you do that?

He draw on me first.

He was gonna shoot. Ask him.

It's too bad.

But he should've stayed behind.

He didn't like me, that's why.

He should've knowed

to not draw on me.

What are you doing?

I know that feeling, Gashade.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes