Witness Page #14

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TSCHANTZ:

It is not the first time we

have done this. In the Englischer

war of the revolution, old Elmer

Miller's grandfather took in

gunshot English soldiers.

(a tad of pride)

Saved them, too.

They all nod. What Tschantz says is well known. Then:

ERB:

Still, he should be among his own

people.

Rachel enters on this last.

RACHEL:

He'll leave as soon as he is able.

He already wants to go.

Hershberger gives her a gloomy look, turns to

Stoltzfus:

HERSHBERGER:

How long will that be, Stoltzfus?

STOLTZFUS:

(shrugs)

A month. Maybe less. With God's

healing love.

88 EXT. BOOK'S SISTER'S HOUSE - PHILADELPHIA - DAY

Schaeffer is knocking at the front doors

A beat, then Elaine opens it cautiously, peers out.

ELAINE:

(half fearfully)

Did you find him?

SCHAEFFER:

Not yet.

Suddenly her eyes blaze, she starts to close the door:

ELAINE:

Then go away, you bastard.

Schaeffer quickly - but gently - prevents her from

shutting it.

SCHAEFFER:

Elaine, I've come to apologize for

Lt. McElroy. He overstated the

department's position.

ELAINE:

(bitterly)

He accused John of taking

kickbacks And you know -

anybody who knows John - knows

that's a goddamn lie!

SCHAEFFER:

(smoothly)

Of course, Elaine. But as long as

there's any question, better

Johnny should come back and clear

his name.

ELAINE:

(cuts in)

Better you should get off my front

porch before I get my mace --!

SCHAEFFER:

Elaine, I don't want to have to

take you in for questioning.

You've got his car, you were the

last to see him --

ELAINE:

(clipped)

I don't know where he is.

SCHAEFFER:

But... if you had to guess?

89 ANOTHER ANGLE - SCHAEFFER'S CAR

89

McElroy watching.

THEIR POV - FRONT DOOR

We see a final exchange between Elaine and Schaeffer.

Elaine forces the door shut. Schaeffer turns, walks

slowly to his car.

INT. SCHAEFFER'S CAR

as Schaeffer opens the door, climbs in, sinks wearily

into the seat, beside McElroy.

McELROY

She say where he is?

SCHAEFFER:

I don't think she knows.

Schaeffer is staring grimly ahead.

SCHAEFFER:

What about Carter?

McELROY

Tight. But I'm working on him.

SCHAEFFER:

Lean on him.

90 OMITTED

90

91 EXT. LAPP FARM - LANCASTER COUNTY - NIGHT

91

REESTABLISHING, and TIGHTENING to the upstairs sickroom

window where a lamp dimly burns.

92 INT. SICKROOM 92

as Samuel comes in with a fresh bedpan. Book is lying

asleep on the bed.

Samuel puts the bedpan down, checks to make sure Book

is indeed asleep, then quietly crosses to the foot of

the bed and opens the clothes chest.

ANGLE:

Book's big .38 revolver lies holstered atop his folded

clothes. Fascinated, Samuel picks it up, admiring the

heavy burled pistol grips. Unable to resist, he starts

to remove the weapon from the holster, then pauses to

steal a look. O.S...

BOOK:

His eyes are open and watching Samuel icily, which

gives the boy something of a jolt.

BOOK:

Give me that.

Mutely, Samuel hands Book the pistol from arm's length.

He looks on as Book takes the pistol out of the hol-

ster, shoots the boy another look, then snaps open the

cylinder and shakes out the heavy, copper-jacketed

bullets into his palm. He snaps the cylinder closed

again, then nods to Samuel.

BOOK:

(continuing)

Come here.

The boy edges closer.

BOOK:

(continuing)

You ever handle a pistol like

this, Samuel?

SAMUEL:

(swallows)

No pistol. Ever.

BOOK:

Tell you what - I'm going to let

you handle this one. But only if

you promise not to say anything to

your momma. I've got a feeling

she wouldn't understand.

92 CONTINUED:

92

SAMUEL:

(grins)

Okay, Mr. Book.

Book smiles. Then he gives the boy a playful, John

Wayne-tough guy wink as he c*cks and uncorks the

pistol, demonstrating the action. He finally hands it

over to Samuel, butt first.

BOOK:

Call me John.

The boy tries to imitate Book's one-handed expertise,

but his hands are too small. Book smiles.

Samuel finally manages to get the thing cocked, using

two hands, and Book reaches over to guide the muzzle

away so that it's not pointed at him.

BOOK:

(continuing)

You don't want to point that at

people you just started calling by

their first name.

Samuel levels the pistol at the door and, just as he

snaps the trigger, Rachel enters, pulls up short in

some dismay to find her son has a gun pointed at her.

Samuel blanches and Book winces, knowing there's heavy

weather ahead.

RACHEL.

(snaps)

Samuel -- !

Samuel quickly hands the pistol back to Book, who

holsters it:

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