Episode 26: I Am Not The Fine Man You Take Me For
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(Open with Al in bed, late
at night. He hears a voice from the street, a drunk is yelling: “I am not the
fine man you take me for”. Cut to the street, we see the drunk climbing the
stairs to the hustings. Cut to Al, he is starting to drift off to sleep again.
Cut to the man as he starts delivering a speech from the platform. The street is
deserted. The drunk is going on about his losses and misfortune in the
camp. Al is laying in bed and
listening. Suddenly the drink pitches forward and falls off the platform into
the mud, apparently sustaining serious injury.)
(Morning, Al awakens and
goes to the window where he sees the body of the man in the street. Cut to Al,
Dan and Johnny in the street with weapons drawn, trying to figure out why this
body is lying in front of the Gem. Dan is shirtless and barefoot, Johnny is in
his long-johns.)
Johnny: It looks like he fell off the
platform.
Dan: It’s
just a broke-neck hoople, Al.
Al: That he posed us no threat was a judgment you come to
me even if you snored.
Dan: Turns on watch Johnny, till this goddam Hearst
business settles out.
Al: And not that we lack options, (looking at the
body) like the sleep from which none awaken. (Johnny is walking away, and
has the ass-flap open on his long-johns) Would you close your flap, that I
don’t forgo my boiled eggs?
(Cut to Hearst, in his
room. He is sketching something on paper. He folds the paper and seals it with
wax, then hands it to Captain Turner.)
(Cut to the Bullock house.
Seth and Martha are in the kitchen having morning tea.)
Martha: Do you believe the speeches will be delivered
tonight?
Seth: The speeches, the elections are held hostage to the
bidness of the camp…which is bloody…….murderous. (hesitates) And you know, I don’t like this
tea?
Martha: Is it too cool?
Seth: Too weak.
Martha: I do not make weak tea.
Seth: (Thinking better of his criticism, smiles) I
aughten’t to tease. (laughs, looks to see if she bought it, she doesn’t)
I like mine unusually strong.
Martha: You might have said, Seth, it’s an easy thing to
fix.
Seth: You’re right
Martha: I’m not a mind-reader.
Seth: (perturbed) I’ve said it now.
Martha: (ironic) My goodness.(She gives him a look
and turns to the sink. Seth follows her and places his hand on her neck, then
slides it down her back)
(Alma’s bedroom, Doc is
visiting)
Alma: How am I?
Doc: I could wish your symptoms further
remitted.
Alma: I find your answer vague, Doctor, has your medicine
dulled my faculties or do you wish to cloud your meaning?
Doc: You don’t do as well as I’d
hoped.
Alma: Am I now losing my baby?
Doc: My opinion is, you will. And, your symptoms make it
prudent to intervene. You’re pained at the stomach…
Alma: I – I’d laid that to … to your medicine slowing my
digestion.
Doc: The spasm in the muscles of your belly doesn’t owe
to slowed digestion. And while you are bleeding less, that you are bleeding at
all, with pain in the abdomen, argues against further
delay.
Alma: Have I time to see to certain
arrangements?
Doc: May I begin to see to mine?
(Ellsworth living room,
Sophia and Whitney are playing patty-cake as Doc descends the stairs. Doc gives
Whitney a stern look and a shake of the head in the
negative.)
Doc: I should be back in about an
hour and a half’s time. (leaves)
Whitney: Put your school things together,
little one.
(Cut to the Gem, Al, Dan
and Silas are having coffee)
Dan: If
we know Hearst is commin’ boss, why the fuck don’t we strike
first?
Al: From the moment we leave the
forest , Dan, it’s all a givin up and adjusting.
Dan: Across the thoroughfare to see
to that cocksucker’s throat!
Al: We forgo the rock for the
dagger, learn distraction’s use, and deception’s, before the dagger is
employed. Spirits, women, games of
chance….
Dan: I’m older, and I’m much less
friendly to fuckin’ change.
Al: Change
ain’t lookin’ for friends. Change calls the tune we dance
to.
(Capt. Turner darkens the
door, which Al has his back to. Johnny and Dan stiffen and Dan heads to the door
to meet him)
Al: Where are you goin? (He turns and sees the Turner) Whiskey
Captain?
(Turner hands him the
paper from Hearst, turns and leaves without speaking. Al opens the note and
stares at it)
(Cut to Tolliver’s room as
Joanie enters)
Cy:
Morning miss
sunshine.
Joanie: (As she is picking up the dishes from his bedside)
Morning Cy.
Cy:
What can you
tell a man at the margin of things, reasons for these cancelled
speeches?
Joanie: I don’t know why they was
cancelled.
Cy: You seem a little sour. Don’t
think, lying here these weeks I ain’t had my dark moments. Thank god I took this
book up again. (holding his
bible)
Joanie: If it really brings you peace
then I’m glad.
Cy:
Hell yes it
brings me peace, you doubt that?
Joanie: I try to
believe.
Cy: You wanna read some with me
honey?
Joanie: (paraphrasing Cy) “Same as you want to find a
different way, then why couldn’t Cy?” (
She’s getting agitated, pacing)
Cy: Getting gut-stabed by a minister
of god will bring you to examine your path.
Joanie: (sobbing) But I don’t! (Gasps) I had a gun to my ear at
Shaunessey’s yesterday.
Cy:
What the hell
are your doin at Shaunessey’s?
Joanie: Stayin away from
here.
Cy: You listen to me young lady.
What brings a gun to the temple, is lack of gainful occupation and of bein
useful to others. I don’t see upi trying to kill yourself here! All you do here
is good, for the girls and for me too.
Joanie: (sobbing) I don’t wanna run women no
more.
Cy: And that’s turning from your
gift, and your training!
Joanie: When
you speak, I feel like it’s the devil talkin’.
Cy:
Ain’t that a
lovely thing to hear yourself accused of?
(knock on door, Con
enters)
Con: Excuse me Mr T, but fucking
Lila’s in extremis.
Cy:
Jesus
Christ!
Con: Aught I get the Doc? Leon seems
over his head.
(Joanie groans and walks
out)
Cy: She’ll see to
it.
(Con grunts and
leaves)
Cy:
(alone now) Try to stay afloat from the
fucking sick bed, have to listen to something like that!
(Joanie is making her way
through a crowded Bella union to the front door, she is crying. She encounters
Leon on the front walk, who is trying to carry Lila. Lila appears to be
over-dosed on dope)
Joanie: Get the fuck inside Leon!
(She grabs Lila away from him)
Before I take out my
gun and kill you!
Leon: Joanie, this ain’t the way it
looks!
Joanie: Get inside or get shot!
(She’s struggling to keep Lila on her
feet)
Leon: Well hold her up then! Got a long
fuckin way to fall down!
Lila: (slurred) Let me die
Joanie!
Joanie: Start walkin’ you lousy whore,
start fuckin’ walkin’.
(Cut to the Chez Amie,
Jane is leaving through the front door, Mose is in his chair on duty. Jane
stands around him for a bit, then speaks)
Jane: Slept inside in case you wasn’t
aware, Miss Stubbs request. Thought she’d try someone competent keepin’
watch. (Jane looks around, then grabs up
watering can)
Mose: She’s off to the Bella
Union.
Jane: I can’t worry about her right
now, can you just help me lug in the fuckin’ water? I’m for the day off the
bottle, and about to bathe.
Mose: (rising) Camp
get up a petition?
(Gem Saloon, Dan and all
are studying the diagram that Hearst sent over. Dan looks to Johnny and to
Silas, both of whom just shrug)
Dan: I can sniff this all you want
boss, but I ain’t got one fuckin’ scintilla of an idea what these marks
mean.
Al: (nodding to the scetch) What if that’s the front door of
our joint.
Johnny: That would make this line the
bar.
Silas: What would that make the
“x”s?
Al: Murderers? (pauses, then to Silas) See to your task with the jew.
(Silas shrugs and
leaves)
(Chez Amie, Jane is
lowering herself into a bath tub. Mose is hovering in the main room, pacing
around the door to the “bathing room”)
Jane: A few fuckin’ things history
proved. You sit still, you fuckin’ memorize, you repeat back what you fuckin’
learned, or, choosing otherwise you display your knuckles to be struck fuckin’
bloody on the fuckin’ desk.
Mose: (through the door) That how you gonna start your
talk to the children?
Jane: Shut the fuck up Mose. And don’t
tease me at a crucial fuckin’ hour.
Mose: (after a pause) Can I
listen?
Jane: (looking surprised for an second) From outside at your post near
the shitter. (Mose turns to
leave)
(Farnum’s private room.
Richardson is tending to his wounds)
E.B.: Could
you have been born Richardson? And not egg-hatched as I’ve always assumed?
Did your mother hover over you, snaggle toothed and doting as you now hover
over me?
Richardson: I loved my
mother.
E.B. Puberty may bring you to
understand, what we take for mother-love is really murderous hatred and a desire
for revenge.
Richardson: Will you give your speech to be
mayor tonight?
E.B.: Whatever night I give it, count
on me not to mince words: “Electors of the camp, as to who should serve as
mayor, reasonable men may differ. But as to who should be sheriff we all aught
speak with one voice, and our words should be – turn out the maniac Bullock who
set upon the mayor unprovoked, who beat him with merciless protraction. Bullock
should be murdered! We should rise up and murder Bullock! Thank you very
much”
Richardson: My father didn’t like me.
E.B. I’d like to use your ointment to
suffocate you. (Richardson continues
dabbing the ointment onto E.B.’s wounds)
(In the street, Ellsworth
is walking Sophia to school, and meets the Bullocks)
Ellsworth: May the little one walk with
you? Is that alright?
Martha: Of course! (Ellsworth turns and leaves)
Sophia: My mother’s
sick.
(Seth turns and looks long
at the Ellsworth house)
(Cut to the Gem Saloon
front door. Davey is in front blocking the door to any who try to enter. As a
hoople approaches, he stops him)
Davey: We’re closed for the next 15
min.
(At the Gem bar, Al is
wiping the bar. The 2 gunmen who killed the Cornishmen the day before are
standing at opposite ends of the bar. 2 other well-dressed men are sitting at a
table nearby. The set-up is identical to the sketch that Hearst
sent)
1st
gunman:
Whiskey.
2nd
gunman:
Beer.
(Al looks at each one in
turn and pauses. Dan is in the barber chair with a sheet over him, getting a
shave.)
Al: I’m concerned it might be taken
as provocation, me serving his whiskey before you getting your beer, or the very
reversal of that.
1st
gunman: Just
bring the whiskey.
2nd
gunman: Fuckin’
beer.
Al: And these others, they friends
of yours that come in on your heels? (pointing to the 2 at the table. Johnny is sitting to
the side of the bar looking at the sketch and comparing it to what he sees),
You friends of these
boys fellas? (Al starts pouring the
whiskey) Should I be
taking your orders all together? (to
gunman #1) Was
your’s the fuckin beer?
1st
gunman: Mine was
the fuckin’ whiskey.
Al: (sighs) Right then. (Dan pushes the barber aside, Al walks over to the
1st gunman) Right you fuckin
are.
(Al throws the drink in
the gunman’s face, and quickly pulls his knife, stabbing him in the chest, then
spinning him around and slitting his throat. At the same time, Dan leaps up and
grabs the 2nd gunman from behind and knifes him. The 2nd
gunman’s gun fires into the ceiling. Johnny has pulled the shotgun and is aiming
at the 2 men at the table.)
Johnny: Make a move
cocksuckers!!
Al: Don’t you shoot em’ Johnny! If these fellas had been sent here
to draw, I believe they’d have already done it. (waves his knife at the 2) Go ahead, go on fellas. And
mind the muck at the thoroughfare center!
Debates are on for tonight, whomever you might wanna
tell!
(As those 2 are leaving in
haste, Charlie Utter is entering. He stops and takes a long look
around)
Charlie: Uh, I’ll drink, uh, after I’ve
et. (he turns to walk back out, Al and
Dan drop their gunman’s bodies to the floor. Charlie grabs a man who is also
entering as he is leaving) Nuh-uh, no-no, you don’t want
that – you don’t want to go in there
(the barber is standing
and shaking, he has peed in his pants)
(Cut to the Hardware
store, Sol is finishing the paperwork with Silas for the
house)
Seth: Definitely a prudent
investment.
Silas: If I could control even one of
my vices, believe me, I’d have kept it myself.
(Charlie enters, nods to
Seth)
Seth: Excuse me. (he leaves with Charlie)
(Silas spits in his hand
and offers it to Sol)
Sol: Oh no, (points to the paper and pen) That’s what these are for.
(signing the papers) whether I ever fucking live there
or not.
(Cut to Alma’s room,
Trixie and Whitney are at Alma’s bedside)
Alma: My husband and I agreed, before
marrying, that property held by either of us before the union would not be
encumbered by our marriage. As to such properties held by me, I name my ward
Sophia as inheritor.
Trixie: I’ve heard
her.
Alma: I wish no amendment as to
guardianship or administration of those properties.
Trixie: I’ve heard
her.
Whitney: Aught Mr Bullock be present to
accept?
Alma: This is property before our
marriage.
Whitney: I know what it is. Don’t he need
to accept, bein’ stererd now to Sophia’s interests? Why don’t I go fetch
him….
(Cut to the school. Martha
is gently pulling Jane by the arm,
to face the class)
Martha: We have a special guest with us
today. Miss Jane
Cannery.
(Mose is peeking in a rear
window)
Girl: An Indian
scout!
Jane: (pointing to Sophia) There’s a child I
know.
Girl: Sophia!
Jane: (nervously shifting around) Anyways…uh…I was a scout for
Armstrong Custer.
James: George
Jane: You’re right, but I always
called him “General” to his face, and “Armstrong” behind his
back.
James: Why?
Martha: James…
Jane: I guess I…..I always spoke of
him as Armstrong cause he seemed puffed up to me, and Armstrong has a puffed-up
sound. (giggling, Jane grabs a little
chair and sits down in front of the class) Any quarrel with me continuing
James?
James: Go ahead.
(Cut to E.B.’s room at the
Grand Central. Richardson is with EB, and is peeking through a peep-hole into
the lobby. He spies Charlie and Seth walking by)
Richardson: Uh-Oh.
E.B.: Why say uh-oh? If you don’t mean
to go on and explain yourself, why say anything at all? Do you only feign
stupidity, while in fact plotting ways to madden me?
Richardson: No.
E.B.: Why did you say it….why did you
say “Uh-Oh”?
Richardson: It’s the sheriff that beat
you! Now comes Mr
Hearst.
(Cut to the dining room,
Charlie and Seth are just sitting down to eat when Hearst comes in. Hearst
appear un-plussed by them being there, but they are both very aware of him and
Charlie is nervous.)
Hearst: Gentlemen.
Charlie: (To Seth, holding his hat up so as to shield himself
from Hearst) Two of
his men throat-cut, he picks the fuckin’ fish!
Seth: Why do you think the men were
his?
(Ellsworth walks in and
approaches Seth)
Elllsworth: My wife would like to see you.
(Seth looks worried and leaves with
Ellsworth)
Hearst: (To Charlie) Kinda warm.
(Cut to the
school)
Jane: The man didn’t listen, his basic
fundamental problem. He’s look hisself in the mirror while you were giving your
report.. Once I said to him how thin his waist was….and how pretty I found his
hair…..(mimicking) ..just to get him to turn
around….which he did, just to tell me to get out of his tent. So, I guess my
lesson I guess my lesson I got to teach you…listen and you won’t get
scalped! And don’t look at yourself
too much in the mirror! What else I
found puffy, he traveled with a dozen caged animals like you’d see in some zoo
in the east. Like we don’t have enough wild animals around here
huh?
Martha: Let us all thank Jane….for her
bravery here today.
Kids in unison: Thank you
Jane.
Jane: (Pointing to Sophia) I know another brave person here
too. (Pointing to Martha), Several.
(Cut to Alma’s living
room, where Doc, Trixie and Whitney are setting up an operating table. Doc and
Whitney are situating 2 large mirrors so as to reflect the window light onto the
proper place on the table)
Doc: More, more more, more.
(Trixie is spread-legged on the table to
be Martha’s stand-in while they adjust the mirrors. )
Doc: (To trixie) Wider. (meaning her knees. Whitnet listakes this for meaning
to move the mirror). Not you!. Al right. (Trixie gets up)
(Alma’s room, Seth is
there)
Alma: Sophia must be protected. If my
first husband’s family attacks Sophia’s title in court. Mr Hearst might be
approached as a potential purchaser. I’m sure he could buy the relevant
authorities.
Seth: Alright.
Alma: Given his history with Hearst,
I’d spare Mr Ellsworth that indignity.
Seth: I
understand.
Alma: (looking long at Seth) Thank you Mr Bullock.
(And after a very long pause)
I regret
nothing. (Seth turns and leaves without
speaking)
(Downstairs, they are
preparing the table as Seth leaves. He and Whitney exchange looks, Whitney heads
upstairs and Seth leaves)
(As Seth walks outside, he
sees Sol looking in one of the living room windows. Sol looks at him, gives him
a thumbs up and looks back in the window. He is trying to get Trixie’s attention
inside the room. She finally sees him, smiles and goes over to the window. Sol
is mouthing the words that he has bought the house, and after several attempts,
he makes his meaning understood. Then he thinks, and ads: “Doesn’t mean we have
to move in together!”. Trixie turns and walks away, and is
beaming.)
(back to Alma’s
room)
Alma: Please remind Sophia that the
full moon is in 2 days.
Whitney: All right
Alma: We three will watch it
together.
(Gem saloon, Dan and
Johnny are loading the 2 bodies onto the sled. Davey is scrubbing a blood
stain)
Johnny: Davey is taking a chance, not
lettin’ Al do the scrubbing.
Dan: That’s Davey’s fuckin’
problem.
Johnny: (As they get the 2nd body situated on top
of the 1st) All right.(Johnny holds up Hearst’s sketch to Dan, wanting an
explanation)
Dan: All right. (they sit on the sled, using the bodies as a sort of
a table) Now, Hearst
sent these 2, the ones you had the drop on.
Johnny: That didn’t
draw.
Dan: Yeah, he sent the 2 that didn’t
draw, so these 2 wouldn’t be so quick to their irons.
Johnny: These 2 that you and Al
murdered.
Dan: Correct, these 2. (pointing to the 2 bodies that they are leaning on)
So see that give me
and Al time to cut their throats. Now, that was Hearst showing Al his ass.
Johnny: And sending this diagram ahead,
was him signaling Al his intentions.
Dan: Well, it was his preliminary
signaling that he was gonna show his ass, if Al was smart enough to know it. Now
otherwise, if Al didn’t know it was comin’, he’d a been surprised when those 2
didn’t back these 2’s play.
Johnny: Well, thinking that Al would
throw his hands up surprised shows that Hearst ain’t too smart. (Thumping on the dead gunman)
Dan: Aw, he’s smart Johnny. I mean
they both him and Al real fuckin’ smart.
(One of the bodies lets a
big fart, Dan and Johnny jump and make faces)
Johnny: (groans) Oh, that’d
knock a buzzard off a shit-wagon.
(Dan looks up to see Capt
Turner darkening the doorway with another note in hand)
(Cut to Al’s office, Silas
and Al)
Silas: I just, I feel shunted aside and
the like. Not involved as much as previous.
Al: Adams, you were busy with
Star.
Silas: That you sent me off to
see.
Al: thinking you’d be back before
time for the murders.
Silas: So it wasn’t like a decision you
made to have the murders while I was signin’ the papers.
Al: You have no idea how fuckin’
badly you are boring me.
(knock at door) Ya!
Dan: That captain’s brought over
another envelope.
Al: (Getting up to leave, then turns to Silas)
Won’t you see with
me what this might portend?
Silas: All right.
(downstairs, Johnny is
entertaining Turner)
Johnny: Drink? Or won’t you be
staying?
Al: (to Turner) Ask the fella who made them
“x”s, if he hires out for portraits. (Turner hands Al the note, turns and leaves without
speaking. Al opens it and reads, as he is walking to the door. Johnny, Dan and
Silas all line up to follow Al to the door)
Johnny: What’s Al
doin’?
Dan: Like I fuckin’
know.
Silas: If we
was trailin’ water, we might get took for ducklings.
(on the street now, in
front of the Grand Central, Al is watching Hearst knock a hole in the exterior
wall, giving himself access to the
roof of the hotel’s porch. Al hands the note to Dan, who reads it
aloud)
Dan: Come watch the speeches with
me…um…it’s written in awkward hand.
Al: Come watch the speeches with me
on my veranda. That’s what it says.
(Merrick is coming out of
his office)
Merrick: What in god’s name is going on?
And I inquire about more than that hole.
(Al looks at Merrick, and they go
to Merrick’s office)
Merrick: these last months have made me
expert. It was gunfire and it came from your saloon.
Al: Has not the press a duty
Merrick, qualifying it’s accounts in time of war?
Merrick: Are we at war now, here in the
camp…has that fact been suppressed as well? Absent formal declaration Al,
information which affects this community is not my prerogative to disseminate.
To do so is my sacred responsibility.
Al: Whores currently disseminating a
dose, for example?
Merrick: To inform within the limits of
decency, we’ve had this discussion before.
Al: Citizens better die postulating
that touch indecent ink?
Merrick: Make a list of the infected
whores, and account for this morning’s gunfire and I’ll publish it
all.
Al: I won’t, fucking Merrick,
because neither’s to my fucking interest. Just as you owning a print press
proves only you’ve an interest in the truth. Meaning up to a fucking point.
Slightly more than us others, maybe, but short of a fucking anointing or the
shouldering of a sacred burden, unless of course the print pres was gift of a
fucking angel, I’d wanta be there for that handoff myself. Maybe you should print an extra, saying
the speeches are on again.
Merrick: Tonight?
Al:
What time do you
think would be best?
(Cut to Charlie’s post
office, Charlie is scooping up spilled mail from the floor, Seth walks
in)
Charlie: (under his breath) People should try keeping their
thoughts to themselves. (notices Seth in
the room) Yessir?
Seth: Will you mind, Charlie, not
being noted tonight from the hustings?
Charlie: Be a
godsend.
Seth: Mrs Ellsworth isn’t well.
Charlie: I’m sorry.
Seth: If, while I’m on that goddamned
platform, if you could station yourself outside her place.
Charlie: Sure I
could.
Seth: Sol’s speakin too, ya see, or
I’d ask him.
Charlie: I’m glad to do it Bullock, glad
and fuckin’ relieved. Doc Cochran
seein to her? (Seth nods)
In good hands
then.
Seth: And Mrs Bullock sees to
Sophia.
Charlie: Don’t that child thrive now,
with startin into school? Sweet as before, and notably more outgoing.
Seth: (after a long pause) Trixie will come out from helping
the Doc.
Charlie: Like to come out for a
smoke.
(Seth turns to leave then
stops and turns back, seems at a loss for words)
Charlie: (looking around at the mess) Fuckin mail
huh?
(Cut to No.10, Harry is
behind the bar reading his speech to himself. He looks to be in distress,
holding his side and shifting around. The shit-stirrer is seated at a
table)
Rutherford: Uncharted territory Harry.
Coming up on 14 minutes.
Harry: I don’t care, I don’t care
whatever you mean.
Rutherford: Readied as you were yesterday,
only to have the event deferred, do you suppose it’s nerves about givin’ your
speech has your bowels in upheaval?
Harry: When you was a boy, Rutherford, I bet
you was a hand at tying cans to dog’s tails and setting cats ablaze.
Rutherford: Or, uncertainty when they’ll be
held?
(Harry sighs in
exasperation, grabs his ass, and runs out the back door to the
privy)
Rutherford: Overturning
turtles was my specialty.
(Cut to an interior room,
Joanie is seeing to Lila)
Joanie: Wake up Lila. Wake up! Don’t you close your eyes
again!
Lila: How do you make it
through?
Joanie: Go on girl, get
out!
(Lila gets up and staggers
out the door)
(Cut ot Alma’s living
room, she is situated on the table with Doc and Trixie in attendance. Doc is
between her knees, Trixie is by her side)
Trixie: Seven times through, Alma, I’m
healthy as a fuckin’ horse.
Doc: I trust you not to modify my
instructions.
Trixie: To the letter
Doc.
Doc: All right, begin. (to Alma) You’ll be
alright.
(Trixie places a gauze
over Alma’s mouth and pours some ether onto it until Alma is asleep. Doc is
holding Alma’s hand and repeating “You’ll be alright”)
Doc: (to trixie) Turn your head away from the
cloth and breathe!
Trixie: Shut
the fuck up and concentrate.
Doc: Turn your head away
goddammit!
(They are screaming at
each other now, Ellsworth can hear them on the front porch, and Charlie hears
them across the street)
Trixie: What I’m used to,
this is like smellin’ fucking posies!
Doc: I would just as soon that you
not fucking pass out!
Trixie: When
you’re done with hers Doc, why don’t you fucking kiss
mine!
(Night time now, cut to
the street near the hustings. The street is crowded with
people)
(Bullock house, Seth
descends the stairs, Martha and Sophia are making bread.)
Martha: I’ll be back in just a moment
Sophia, round the dough’s ends.
Seth: Mrs Ellsworth is being seen to
by Dr Cochran. And, Trixie I believe is assisting him.
Martha: I’ll keep care of Sophia while
you deliver your speech. And, we’ll both pray for Mrs Ellsworth. (Seth nods and leaves)
(Tolliver’s room, he is
alone on the bed)
Cy: Go on then, spend time finding
spine to put the bullet in your brain. Calls me the fuckin’ devil! (picks up his bible) Show me another fuckin strategy.
Bedridden and liable to fuckin slaughter. Deception don’t preclude the search
for fuckin conviction. (cut to the Bella
Union bar, Con and Leon).
Con: When is
when?
Leon: You are a fuckin stitch!
Con: “About to begin” could mean
anything. There’s a crowd outside, are the speeches about to begin? Is when
now? Oh dear, Oh
brother..
(Andy Cramed walks into
the bar)
Leon:
What is it?
Con: Only
Andy Cramed, you drug-addled turd!
Andy:
Gentlemen.
Con: Yes,
sir. (laughs) Yes, sirree. Reverend! Excuse me for just a moment! Reverend!
Leon:
Reverend! Guess you heard about the Clergical
discount on wheel and faro both?
(Con rushes into Cy’s room, trying to hide the liquor
bottle behind his back)
Cy:
Yes, Con?
Con: Andy
Cramed that stabbed you is outside with Leon, sir.
Cy: Is
he?
Con: Yes,
sir. Just come
in.
Cy: Is
his blade sheathed?
Con: No
brandishin’ no threatenin’ gestures of any kind.
Cy: I’ll
see him, Con.
Con: Yes,
sir.
(Joanie looks out the window and sees Charlie
standing in the street. He also
sees her in the window and they exchange looks. She sees Doc come out of the
house and take Ellsworth inside)
(Cy’s room, he is feigning
sleep)
Cy:
Reverend Cramed. Or are you an
apparition?
Andy:
It’s me, Cy.
Cy: Ain’t
that what a spirit would say?
Andy: It’s Andy
Cramed in the flesh. How are you,
Cy?
Cy: Well,
I’d say overall.
Though I’ll never shit again without pain.
Andy: I’m
sorry.
Cy: Now
you ain’t come to finish me off?
Andy: To
ask your forgiveness.
Cy: And
decide how to vote.
Andy:
Coming for the speeches was my excuse.
Cy: As
far as stabbing me, Reverend, you was sorely fuckin’ provoked. I denied you’d been called, treated you
like the shitbag fuckin’ operator you used to be.
Andy: I
forgive you, Cy, as I come to beg your forgiveness.
Cy: (points to his bible) The ribbon’s at
Matthew 12, Reverend. Could you
read verse 31 for me? (Andy takes the Bible and finds the
spot.)
Andy: “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will
be forgiven except blasphemy against the spirit.”
Cy:
Couldn’t Matthew be speaking of me there?
Oh, Christ Al-fuckin’-mighty, I’m so glad to fuckin’ see you, Andy,
with—with forgiveness in your fuckin’ heart. (He sits up on the edge of the bed. Drawing a pistol out and pointing it at
Andy) Oh…where is this strength
coming from now? Where is this
strength coming from that I feel flowing into me, that lets me sit up and try to
fuckin’ touch you, Andy, if only you’ll fuckin’ let me? Fuck me! Fuckin’ Jesus Christ Almighty! Can you feel what’s fuckin’ moving
here? It’s moving in the room right
now! If only you’d hold me, I
believe I could walk. (Leon walks in – he is confused by what he
sees)
Leon: Con
said now may be when you ask to be told about.
Cy: Jesus
Christ, you’re well-arrived. Would
you have dope’s cross off your shoulders, son?
Leon: I
know I’d—(coughs) like to take
less.
Cy: Then
fall to your fuckin’ knees. (points the gun at him – Leon drops) Get
to your motherfuckin’ knees, Leon, and ask the Lord to lift your burden
part-way.
Leon:
Hear me! Lord!
Cy:
Don’t fuck with the fuckin’ deity,
Leon! You’ve got to come to him
wholehearted, even when you’re asking for partial relief. Oh, Lord! Let Leon cut down, Lord, on the
motherfuckin’ dope. Let him cut way
the fuck back.
Andy: I’ll speak to
you another time. (Andy seems pretty confused and frightened
by all this.)
Cy:
Oh! Do you hear how I’m coming at
him for you, Leon? (Leon nods, his eyes shut tight and hands in
prayer) How I fully fuckin’
supplicate the motherfucker? (Con opens the
door)
Con:
Speeches are near commensurating, Sir.
Now that’s a definite.
Cy: (Shakes his head, looks at Leon) Get the fuck up, Leon. Help Con get me
ready.
(Al’s
office, Al is readying to meet Hearst.)
Johnny:
Any argument for us accompanying you
over there, boss?
Al: Don’t
strike the right note going over there with seconds.
Dan: Know
Goddamn well Hearst is gonna have his second there, that sea-creature-looking
cocksucker.
Al:
Hearst would have it understood the Captain is just a hefty steward of the
household.
Dan:
Yeah, one with a dozen fuckin’ pelts on his belt.
Al: Even
so, Dan, Hearst’s man has pretext for his presence. You and the others don’t. What with the olive branch I’ll be
bearing between my teeth.
Silas:
You mind if we watch you from the balcony?
Al: Not
at all. Moment seems meet, blow me
a kiss. (He turns around, Dan is in the way.) Excuse me.
(In the street outside Alma’s house, Charlie is now
standing with Joanie)
Joanie: If I could, I’d tear my skin off. If I could, I’d put out my
eyes.
Charlie:
Now now.
Joanie: I
hate being sick. Cy knew what I
was. He knew to pick me all those
years back.
Charlie:
Miss Stubbs, did you like my friend Bill Hickok?
Joanie:
Oh, I—I just met him the once at the Bella, at poker with Jack
McCall.
Charlie:
Did you like Bill that night?
Joanie:
(nods) I thought he was a
gentleman.
Charlie: He was.
Joanie: I
felt he had a good soul.
Charlie:
He did, Miss Stubbs. (Charlie is
choking up) I can say that. I
knew him 20 years. You know what
else? Bill that we both liked so
well—and most everyone did that knew him, incliding some he killed—Bill thought
as ill of his own self as you seem to do about you. So go on and try explaining people to
me. And same as hearing me say what
Bill thought of his self I don’t expect brings you to think any less of
him…maybe you, Miss Stubbs, oughtn’t to stand judge and jury and every other job
in courth on your own personal case.
Maybe, coming to verdict, credit others’ opinion of you like you do what
you think of Bill…still.
(He reaches out and pats her hand comfortingly, and
grabs it. They hold
hands)
(At the hustings, Merrick talks to the night’s
speakers.)
Merrick: So I’m gonna-I’m gonna just do some introductory
remarks. I’ll call you up on
stage. Say what you have to say and
that’s it. (Backs up, steps in something.) Aw,
shit.
(Hearst’s room, Al is
knocking.)
Al: Mr.
Hearst.
Hearst:
Do you come to me placated, Mr. Swearengen?
Al: Never
more so, not even as a tiny tot.
Hearst:
Let’s hear the speeches together. (He
steps into the hall)
Al:
Show me your hole in the wall, which
I find a useful advance.
(Merrick steps up onto the platform.)
Merrick: De Tocqueville said, “When an opinion has taken root
in a democracy and established itself in the minds of the majority, it
thereafter persists by itself.” (Hearst
and Al step out onto the porch roof of the Grand Central.) Tonight let us plant the seed of an
opinion to take root and grow deep,
that gathering to this end choosing those who will act in our name is
proper, so that in years to come,
among those who succeed us in this thoroughfare this idea will persist and seem
to them self-evident. Candidates
for Mayor—E.B. Farnum and Sol Star.
The incumbent will address us first. (
Merrick grunts as he climbs down.) Oh God. (E.B. looks down on him)
Sorry.
EB: I
give no long speech tonight. You
know me and my works.
Hearst:
Your bosom must swell with pride, Mr. Swearengen.
Al:
Swellings and saggings to the tit I lay at the exactions of time. (Hearst chuckles.)
Hearst: I
mean you worked to bring this evening about. To
labor without pleasure makes us our destiny’s slaves.
Al: To
work for crumbs or to keep from the lash says maybe a slave’s what you
are.
EB: I’ll
not question those either who have faith in my rival, or make faith an issue of
any sort. (whistles and gestures a large nose – a
woman laughs) We are long past
the time of the Pharaohs. I cannot
decree Mr Star make exodus.
Hearst:
Were you whipped, Mr. Swearengen?
And does the lash snap still?
Do you wait for the strike after all these years?
Al: Would
the grip have been the part you were versed with?
Hearst: I
was born to neither power nor money.
My father sold goods from a countryside crossroads
hut.
EB: A
clear choice for Deadwood!
Farnum—twice measured.
Star—once cut. (points to his crotch) E.B. Farnum!
Assayed and proven true!
Farnum! Christ knows he’s
earned it! Thank
you.
Merrick:
Mr. Star! (Sol climbs up)
Hearst:
When last we spoke, you warranted your willingness to interfere with
me.
Al: Only
to convey that my place should be for my uses.
Sol: I
won’t need a miracle far as parting the creek to take my leave of the camp. I
just bought a house and plan to live here as long as God gives me. (E.B. mockingly claps)
Hearst:
And
my intention in making my sacrifice to you today—and it seems, my life’s great
challenge—was to show the virtue of consolidating
purposes.
Hooplehead: Keep people from shitting in the creek! (The crowd yells
support)
Sol:
That, siftings runoff, tailings accumulating…
Al: I’d
say that’s naming horseshit virtue. Purposes butt up against each other, and
the strong call “consolidating” bending the weak to their will. (Captain Turner steps out behind Al) And
I’d add that whoever’s behind me is about to study his
guts.
Hearst:
That’s Captain Turner at three steps’ remove as he has heard about your
knifework close in.
Hooplehead: No lowered pants in the
whitewood!
Seth:
That’s enough about the shit in the creek.
Hearst:
Away from your seconds’ view, the Captain’s pistol is trained at your head. Do you believe yourself enough adept,
Mr. Swearengen, to overcome your disadvantage or will you walk with us
inside? (Al flicks his toothpick)
Hmm.
Al: Not
throwing my hands up or my skirt over my head don’t mean I ain’t awestruck. (Hearst chuckles.)
Johnny:
(watching this exchange) Well, they ain’t slobbering on each other, but
they ain’t snarling neither. (Hearst and Al walk inside, Turner smiles at
the guys at the Gem)
Sol:
Needs to do with the camp, or problems, you can always find me at the hardware
store. (The crowd applauds as Sol steps
down.)
Merrick:
Seth Bullock for Sheriff! (Cy steps out
onto his balcony with Con and Leon behind him. Seth climbs the hustings and pulls out
his speech.)
Seth: I
agree with what Mr. Star says. I
find I usually do. I’m lucky we’ve
been partnered these years. Keeps
giving me time to catch up. I’m
glad he’s standing for office, and I’d try to be as good a Sheriff…as he’d be a
Mayor to the camp.
(Cut to Doc, Ellsworth and Trixie lifting Alma off
the table.)
Seth:
Sol’s buying a house. I built one last year. I’m glad we’re in the camp…even on the
sorriest of days. (Merrick looks up at him, Seth tips his had
and climbs down. The crowd
applauds.)
Merrick:
Harry Manning for Sheriff.
(Cut to Alma’s house, Trixie is stepping outside for
a smoke. Charlie sees her, then looks back to Joanie before approaching
Trixie.)
(Cut to Hearst’s room, he puts a shotglass in front
of Al and over-pours Al a shot of cheap whiskey)
Hearst: Accepting your premise, Mr. Swearengen, I’ll not name
how you would benefit from the action I wish you to take, saying only instead
it’s my will. To which I will have you bend, I suggest you drink that.. (Captain Turner pulls his gun, standing
behind Al.)
Al: (Seated, arms crossed.)
No.
Hearst: I
would incorporate into my holdings the claim now owned by Mrs. Ellsworth. I am told that you can help me bring
this about.(Turner pistol-whips Al on the
back of the head/neck, knocking him to the floor. He grabs Al from behind and holds him
still, holding Al’s left hand on the top of the table.) Tell me how you will
help. (He takes out a rock-pick and brandishes
it.) This is a grip I’m used to. (He
hovers over Al.)
Al:
(sputtering) As far as making your way into her…act averse to nasty
language and partial to fruity tea.
(Al smiles as Turner
holds him still, Hearst raises hi hand and plants the flat edge of the rock-pick
into Al’s hang as hard as he can. Al gasps and colapses)
(Cut to Harry giving his
speech)
Harry:
But I’d like to get known far as wanting
to help the camp. We need a fire
brigade, and I’d like to lead it.
I’ve always loved fires since—since I was a boy. If you’re wanting to drink, the Number
Ten’s serving. (clears throat) Oh, also—also, the
graveyard needs moving. That’s it.
(nods at Merrick, the crowd
applauds.)
Merrick:
Well, thank you all for coming.
Please think about what you heard here tonight, and thank you again.
(Joanie steps onto the Bella Union porch,
Lila is standing there all cleaned up and looking sober)
Joanie:
Nothing’s over yet.
(Charlie approaches Seth through the
crowd.)
Charlie:
Doc’d be dour at a christening, but Trixie says he wasn’t scowling how he does,
or or shaking his jowls like a bulldog.
(Al comes staggering out of the Grand Central, his
hand tucked into vest. He see’s Bullock and heads for him. Bullock also spies Al
and realizes he is hurt.)
Seth:
Thank you, Charlie.
Charlie:
All right.
(On the Gem balcony, the
boys see that Al is in
trouble)
Dan: Oh
God. That’s the look he gets on his
face when he’s hurt. (They rush back
inside.)
(Cy also sees Al)
Cy:That
man appears worse hurt than I am.
Bless his heart.
Seth:
What happened?
Al: We
watched the speeches together.
Yours was especially swell.
(quietly) I need to lean on you, but don’t you
fuckin’ look up.
Seth:
Should I go up and get him?
Al: Hey,
boys! (Dan, Johnny and Silas approach)) What’d
you think of the speeches, huh?
Seth:
I’ll go get the cocksucker now.
Al: Stay
the fuck away from him. Hmm? I’m
having mine served cold. (He steps ahead of Seth, and addressing the
boys:) First one to touch me I kill.
(Dan gets out of the way, Johnny follows Al. Hearst watches from above, smiling, Seth turns and slowly walks away.)
The End
Click here to hear the closing credits music
Directed by: Dan Attias
Al Swearengen: Ian McShane Dan Dority: W Earl Brown
Seth Bullock: Timothy Olyphant
Alma Garret: Molly Parker
Ellsworth: Jim Beaver
Doc Cochran: Brad Dourif
Sol Star: John Hawkes
Trixie: Paula Malcomson
Tom Nuttall: Leon Rippy
Cy Tolliver: Powers Boothe
Leon: Larry Cedar
Sophia: Bree Seanna Wall
Silas Adams: Titus Welliver
Martha Bullock: Anna Gunn
Hugo Jarry: Stephen Toblowsky |
E.B. Farnum: William Sanderson
Calamity Jane: Robin Weigert
Charlie Utter: Dayton Callie Johnny Burns: Sean Bridgers
Andy Cramed: Zach Grenier
Jewel: Geri Jewell
A. W. Merrick: Jeffrey Jones
Mose Manual: Pruitt Taylor Vince
Mr. Wu: Keone Young
Joanie Stubbs: Kim Dickens
Con Stapleton: Peter Jason
Blazanov: Pavel Lychnikoff
Steve: Michael Harney
Harry Manning: Brent Sexton
Richardson: Ralph Richeson |
Transcription last updated on 02/06/2007 | |
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