BOUNTY MAN
BY
G.E. FARRELL
FADE IN:
Ext: Cabin_day
A cabin in a clearing in wooded hills. It is the 1880 s. A black woman in her thirties, Ida Corliss, is hanging laundry on a clothesline. She is singing to herself as she works. The song is "Battle Hymn of the Republic". It is a clear, sunny spring day. The movement of the laundry on the clothesline reveals that a slight breeze is blowing.
Cut to:
Ext: Cabin_day
The other side of the cabin is a corral where Richard Corliss, Ida’s father, is currying horses. He talks softly to the horse that he is currying.
Richard
Now you’re looking just fine today, just fine, the finest looking horse this side of the Rocky Mountains. Why, some mare’s gonna come and look at you and just flip her tail at the sight of you. That’s cause you look so good. Like a dude. That’s what you are. You’re a dude. Yeah. Just look at you now. Yes, sir. You’re a dude.
Cut to:
Int: Cabin_day
Ida is cooking over a wood burning stove when Richard enters and coughs.
Ida
That cough of yours isn’t getting any better.
Richard
It’s not getting any worse either. What you making there?
Ida
Never you mind. You just get washed up and sit down.
Richard
You get more like your mother every day, bless her soul. Are you lonely out here Ida? Is it too far away from everything for you? Maybe you’d like it better near some town where the fellas will come out to see you.
Ida
I’m not lonely, Pa. Long as you’re here I’m content. This place is just fine. Matter of fact I like it here. It’s safe for both of us.
Richard
You should be raising a family, not taking care of a broken down old man like me.
Ida
You’re not a broken down old man. And what fella would want a middle aged spinster like me anyhow. All I’m good for is taking care of you and that’s all I want to do.
Richard
I’m not going to be here forever.
Ida
Sit down before this gets cold.
Richard
I’m talking to you seriously now.
Ida
I know. Sit down and eat.
Richard
If you don’t want no man you’re in the right place. Nobody’ll find us here.
Ida
That suits me just fine.
Richard
Nobody but Matthew Denny maybe.
Ida
Who’s Matthew Denny?
Richard
Bounty man. Best of a bad breed. Could track a fly over solid rock they say. The reward for me ain’t enough to interest someone like him though unless times are lean or he does it for the sport. You’re well away from that kind.
Ida
They’re not still looking for you.
Richard
They never give it up. They’ll be looking for me until I’m in the ground and likely even then. Carlyle doesn’t know that, but he’s going to find out if he don’t change his ways.
Ida
I wish he was here with us.
Richard
So do I. Your mother never forgave me for him taking to the outlaw trail. She always thought that I had something to do with it. And no amount of talking would change her mind.
Ida
You may not have led him there but he worshiped you and wanted to be like you.
Richard
Ain’t that what a son’s supposed to do? Want to follow in his father’s shoes?
Ida
Depends on where those shoes been. I’ll be starting the canning tomorrow.
Cut to:
Int: a saloon_day
Four young men sit around a table. Rooney, Porter, Calhoun and Torrens sit close together talking among themselves.
Rooney
It’s my brother he sent to prison and he tracked down my best friend and sent him to prison. I aim to pay him back for it. And make sure he don’t do the same to me.
Calhoun
He broke up the bunch I was running with, so I’m in. But we need a plan. He ain’t no damned fool who’s going to just get himself killed for our benefit.
Rooney
All right, we’ll make a plan. What about you two?
Porter
I got no love for bounty men. I’ll join you.
Rooney
Torrens?
Torrens
Sure. I’ll join too.
Rooney
You’re sure, are you?
Torrens
Yeah, I’m sure.
Rooney
What kind of plan do we need?
Calhoun
We got to find out where he is first. I hear he ain’t been working much lately.
Porter
If he’s such a good man hunter, won’t he be hard to hunt himself.
Calhoun
I don’t think so. He won’t expect us to be tracking him.
Porter
Nobody ever looked to pay him back before?
Rooney
Not that I know of. Too many men are afraid of him.
Porter
I ain’t afraid of him, or nobody else either.
Calhoun
That’s good. Just what we need, another Billy the God damned Kid.
Rooney
Don’t be trying to prove it now or you’ll get us all killed along with yourself.
Porter
You don’t hafta worry about me. Just keep yourselves alive.
Calhoun
The place to start is the sheriff’s office where they hang the wanted posters. The highest reward is where he’ll be found.
Torrens
I thought you said he wasn’t working right now.
Calhoun
Maybe not, but he will be. Even a bounty man has to eat.
Rooney
I’ll start there in the morning. If we all go together we’ll raise suspicion. I don’t want any word to get to him that we’re on his trail. He’s dangerous enough.
Porter
Just in case he is laying low, I’ll ask around and see what I can find out.
Rooney
Play it quiet though; we don’t want to give away our advantage.
Porter
It’ll be quiet; don’t worry.
Calhoun
Let’s seal this agreement with a drink.
Porter
I’ll go for that.
Rooney
Me too. Torrens?
Torrens
Sure.
Fade out.
Fade in:
Ext: forest_day
It is winter. Matthew Denny walks stealthily through the snow holding his horse’s bridle. As he approaches a rise, he ties the bridle to a tree. He calms the horse by speaking to it.
Matthew
There you are, boy. Just you be quiet here for a few minutes while I do the work I came here to do and then we’ll get you a nice warm place to spend the night. Nice and quiet does it.
Matthew takes his rifle from its holster on the saddle and walks carefully to the edge of the rise from which he can see the Corliss cabin below. There is smoke coming from the chimney of the cabin. As Matthew raises his rifle and aims it at the cabin, his horse whinnies. The sound is so loud in the silent forest that it can be heard at a distance.
Matthew turns toward the horse and aims the rifle at it. He is angry that the horse has given him away.
Matthew
You dumb son of a bitch. I ought to shoot you right in the damned head. You’re one worthless damned animal; do you know that? Hell, you’d be better off in a glue factory where you’d do the world some good.
A curtain on the widow of the cabin is pushed aside and Ida looks through the window. After a moment, she lets the curtain fall and comes out of the cabin and stands before the doorway looking up the rise to where Matthew is.
Matthew
Mornin, ma’am. How are you? I’m here looking for one Richard Corliss.
Matthew stands and points the rifle at her. He then approaches the cabin very carefully, keeping the rifle pointed at Ida.
Matthew
Forgive me if I seem less than friendly here, but in my occupation it doesn’t pay to take chances. Many’s the man ended up dead by being over friendly when working.
She merely watches him but does not speak or raise her hands.
Matthew
You do know this Mr. Richard Corliss, do you not? I’d be obliged if you’d tell me where I might find him, if you would. It would save me a lot of looking and you any more of this intrusion than is absolutely necessary.
She points to a spot in the snow some distance from the cabin. Matthew motions for her to precede him to the spot. She goes and he follows, watching the cabin as he does so.
She points again to the spot and a tombstone can be seen sticking out from the snow.
Matthew
Dead, is he? Now how did that happen to come about?
Matthew backs away from the grave and goes to the cabin door where he looks inside. He then goes to an outhouse nearby where he opens the door and looks inside. He then returns to the grave.
Matthew
He’s there, is he?
Ida
He’s there all right; I put him there with my own hands.
Matthew
May I ask what brought about this unhappy event?
Ida
Pneumonia.
Matthew
I’m sorry to hear that.
Ida
You lost your blood money, did you?
Matthew
There is a reward; that’s a fact. It’s not much though; I only came because I was nearby on a private matter. What I mean is that I’m sorry for your trouble. I assume you’re kin.
Ida
He was my father.
Matthew
Yeah, well. That don’t make it any easier.
Ida
Don’t make what any easier?
Matthew
I have to make sure it’s him.
Ida
I just told you that it’s him. I should know my own father, shouldn’t I?
Matthew
Yes, Ma’am. That you should. But you see, I have to make sure; I can’t take anybody’s word, not even yours. It’s my business. I can’t go back and say that he’s dead and then have him come back from the grave and commit some horrendous crime. That would put me out of business. Besides, I have ethics and the protection of the public is one of them.
Ida
What do you mean horrendous crime? He was a good man. He did some things he wasn’t too proud of but he never did any horrendous crime.
Matthew
Just a figure of speech, ma’am.
Ida
Well, you go and figure speeches like that somewhere else.
Matthew
No offense meant, none at all. He was an outlaw though. I wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t.
Ida
You’re not going to dig him up.
Matthew
I don’t see any other way. It’s not something I’m looking forward to either.
Ida
You can’t disturb a man’s grave.
Matthew
Have you another idea? I’m open to suggestion.
Ida
The ground is frozen.
Matthew
You wouldn’t happen to have a pick, would you?
Ida
You’re a crazy man. Are all white folks like you?
Matthew
Can’t say, I haven’t met but a few. The pick?
Ida
You’re really going to do it.
Matthew
Yes, ma’am. I’m really going to do it. Mind if I unsaddle my horse and put him in that corral there?
Ida
You got cheek, do you know that, Mister? Suppose you want to feed and water him too.
Matthew
The thought did occur to me. If you don’t mind I mean.
Ida
You come here hunting my father. You’re going to dig him up from his grave to make sure that I’m not lying to you. And you ask me for a pick and shovel to do it and if you can feed and water your horse at my expense.
Matthew
Now, that’s not altogether true, ma’am. I’m willing to pay for the feed and water. I’ll pay a bit more for the use of the corral. I don’t ask for nothing for free.
Ida
You are a piece of work. (She stands looking at him for a long moment without speaking.) Go ahead, take care of your horse.
Matthew
Thank you, ma’am.
Ida
And stop calling me ma’am. I ain’t no old woman. My name’s Ida.
Matthew
Yes, ma’am.
Ida
You’re some piece of work, you are.
Ida leaves him and goes to the cabin. While she does so, Matthew retrieves his horse and puts the rifle back in its holster. He then takes the horse into the corral where he unsaddles him and lets him free to eat and drink.
Ida returns with a pick and shovel. She is now wearing a coat. She gives the pick and shovel to Matthew who begins to dig in the snow. She watches him for a few moments and then goes into the cabin closing the door. Matthew continues to dig.
Cut to:
Int: the cabin_day
Ida takes pots and utensils out and prepares a meal.
Cut to:
Int: cabin_night
Matthew enters the cabin. He is dirty and tired. Ida motions him to a wash basin where he washes and then to a chair at the table. When he sits, she serves him food.
Matthew
Thank you, ma’am; I mean Ida. I’ll be glad to pay you for the meal.
Ida
Just sit down and eat.
The two eat in silence.
Cut to:
Int: the cabin_night
They finish eating.
Matthew
That was just fine. Best meal I’ve had in months, maybe the best ever. You’re a fine cook.
Ida
I learned to cook when I was a slave.
Matthew
You must have been awful small then.
Ida
I was.
Matthew
I’d best be going now.
Ida
You can stay here the night if you like.
Matthew looks about the cabin but sees only one bed.
Matthew
I’m obliged but I don’t know that it would be decent. I mean you being a woman and me a man.
Ida
Decent! Just what do you think I have in mind? I’ll fix you up a bed before the fire. You are a piece of work.
Matthew
Yeah, well, I better see to my horse before I bed down.
Matthew exits. Ida makes a place for him to sleep before the fire. She then prepares for bed.
Matthew returns. The two go to bed and Ida blows the kerosene lamp out.
Cut to:
Int: cabin_day
Matthew is awakened by Ida dragging an empty bath tub across the floor. She then exits and returns with a bucket of water that she pours into a pot and puts on the fire. Matthew watches this silently. When the water is warm, she pours it into the tub and boils more.
Matthew
What’s that for?
Ida
It’s called a bathtub. And it’s for you.
Matthew
I know what it is. I ain’t uncivilized. What do you mean it’s for me?
Ida
You’re a bounty man and you say you’re civilized? You ain’t fooling me, Mr. Denny. And what I mean is it’s for you to take a bath because you stink. Now take those clothes off and I’ll wash them. You can wear my father’s until yours’re dry.
Matthew
How’d you know my name?
Ida
My father once said that the only man who could find us here was Matthew Denny. I just put two and two together. White folks ain’t the only people can think, you know. I can read too.
Matthew
You going to watch me get undressed and bathe?
Ida
Got something to be ashamed of?
Matthew
No, but it’s not proper.
Ida
You want me to go and stand in the snow so that I don’t see what you look like?
Matthew
No, but you could turn around.
Ida
Yeah, I could.
She finishes filling the tub and then she turns her chair to the fire and takes up some knitting. Matthew undresses and gets into the tub where he scrubs himself. When he’s finished, he gets out and wraps a towel around himself. He dries off and dresses.
Ida
You decent now?
Matthew
Yeah. Thanks for the bath and all. It feels good.
Ida
Probably makes you about ten pounds lighter too.
She takes his clothes and puts them into the tub. She then pours more boiling water in and stirs them with an ax handle.
Cut to:
Int: cabin_day
Matthew is dressed and his clothes are laid by the fire to dry. Ida sits in a chair sewing while Matthew rolls and smokes a cigarette. He then takes out his weapons, strips them down and cleans them.
Ida
You take good care of those, don’t you?
Matthew
They’re the tools of my trade. Sometimes the difference between life and death.
Ida
Why do you do it? Why do you hunt men?
Matthew
Dislike of ranching and farming. Money. It’s all I know. And some men need catching. Your father wasn’t all that dangerous but some men are very dangerous. They have to be stopped before they do any more bad things. I’m good at what I do, so I keep doing it. And I have the satisfaction of knowing that I do some good. Not many people can say that.
Ida
It’s dangerous.
Matthew
So’s ranching all the way out here.
Ida
There’s no danger here; distance makes it safe. Nobody ever comes here. The Indians left years ago. Only somebody looking for us would have found this place. Being a bounty man you must have made a lot of enemies.
Matthew
I guess. My clothes must be almost dry by now.
Cut to:
Ext: outside the cabin_day
Matthew mounts his horse. He tips his hat to Ida and rides off while she watches until he is out of sight. She then returns to the cabin.
Cut to:
Ext: various_day
A montage of Matthew at work. He subdues one villain by banging him on the head with a gun, another is caught by surprise, a third holds a gun to his own head while Matthew talks to him (after a moment he surrenders the weapon). Another is killed in a shootout. Finally, Matthew is riding through a wood. He hears something and stops. He listens. He dismounts and takes out his rifle. He takes cover and waits.
Cut to:
Ext: woods_day
Rooney, Calhoun, Torrens and Porter split up and move to surround Denny.
Cut to:
Ext: woods_day
Matthew sees Porter moving through the woods and fires. The four return fire and a battle ensues.
Cut to:
Ext woods_day
Rooney fires at Matthew from atop a slight incline.
cut to:
Ext woods_day
Porter fires from behind a tree.
cut to:
Ext woods_day
Calhoun fires from the prone position behind a fallen tree.
cut to:
Ext woods_day
Torrens fires from behind bushes and rocks.
cut to:
Ext woods_day
Matthew sees that he is outnumbered and about to be surrounded. He mounts his horse and makes a run for it but is hit by a rifle bullet. The horse carries him away.
cut to:
Ext woods_day
The four chase after him on foot but he gets away.
cut to:
Ext the cabin_day
Matthew slumps on his horse which walks into the clearing before the cabin and stops. It whinnies. Ida looks out the window and then comes out. She helps Matthew down and carries him into the cabin.
cut to:
int cabin_day
Matthew is cleaned, bandaged and in bed. Ida wakes him to feed him. She feeds him with a spoon from a wooden bowl. He grimaces at the taste and turns his head away.
Ida
Don t you be turning away like a little child now. This is good for you; it will help you heal faster even if it does taste like a fire breathing preacher s idea of hell.
Matthew
It s for sure that something that tastes that bad must be good for me. What s in it?
Ida
You don t want to know.
Matthew
How did I get here? What happened to me?
Ida
Your horse brought you here. What happened I don t know but you had a bullet in the back of your shoulder and lost a lot of blood.
Matthew
My horse?
Ida
Yes, your horse. Have some more of this.
She feeds him more. He grimaces.
Matthew
I m well. I don t need any more.
Ida
There s only a bit left. Come on, open up. You re acting like a child. There you are. No more.
Matthew
I appreciate your help.
Ida
I d do the same for any human being.
Matthew
I appreciate it anyway. Thank you.
Ida
You re welcome. What are you doing?
Matthew
I m getting up. I have work to do. I have to find out who shot me.
Ida
You re staying right where you are. You re not strong enough to get up yet. And it don t matter who shot you, least not right now. You ve got enough enemies that there ll be plenty for you to hunt after you re recovered. Hell, I could ve shot you myself when you dug up my father s grave. So you stay right where you are.
Matthew
It does matter. I have to find them before they__
Ida
You have to rest and get your strength back and that s all you have to do. Look at you; you re weak as a baby. Now lie back down and sleep.
Matthew
Yes, ma am.
Ida
And don t be calling me ma am.
cut to:
int the cabin_day
Ida sets the table and then helps Matthew to a chair where he sits and she serves his food. He waits until she s seated to begin eating.
Ida
Go ahead and eat; you don t have to wait for me.
Matthew
It s rude to begin eating before you re seated. Besides, I owe you a lot. I don t want you to feel like a servant.
Ida
A servant! Nobody makes me feel like a servant in my own home, not even the great Matthew Denny. You re some piece of work, do you know that?
Matthew
Meant no offense.
Ida
None taken. A servant. Eat before it gets cold.
Matthew
Not until you sit down.
Ida
All right. I m sitting down. Now eat.
Matthew
I m eating.
Ida
You re still weak as a puppy.
Matthew
I m strong enough.
Ida
Strong enough for what?
Matthew
To be a man to you.
Ida
Is that right? And who says that I want you to be a man to me or anything else, bounty man?
cut to:
int cabin_night
Matthew sleeps. Ida stands at the foot of his bed. She is naked. He opens his eyes and looks at her. She looks down at him. They do not speak. He lifts the cover. She approaches.
cut to:
Ext outside the cabin_day
It is late summer. Matthew saddles his horse. Ida enters carrying a small package which she gives to him. He places the package in a saddle bag. They kiss and she watches him as he rides away.
cut to:
Ext outside the cabin_night
Rooney, Calhoun, Torrens and Porter approach the cabin. Rooney, signals to Torrens, and motions for him to approach the cabin. Torrens dismounts, goes down the rise and approaches the corral. He then approaches the cabin and looks in a window. He then goes back to the rise where the other three men await him.
Torrens
Don t see him down there. All s in the cabin is a nigra woman sittin by the fire.
Rooney
I heard he was livin out here with a nigra woman. Just like a bounty man, ain t it? White people won t have nothin to do with em.
Calhoun
He may just be away. Might even be on his way back right now.
Rooney
Maybe we should find out.
Calhoun
Maybe we should.
Torrens mounts his horse and the four go down the rise.
cut to:
int the cabin_night
Ida hears the men approach. She puts down the knitting she was working on, rises and goes to the window. She looks out the window. She then goes to the door and steps outside.
cut to:
Ext the cabin_night
Ida emerges from the cabin. She watches the four men approach. They come close and stop before her. She looks up at the four men on their horses.
Rooney
We re lookin for somebody, fella named Matthew Denny. (Ida does not respond.) We heard he was out here, livin with a colored woman. (Ida does not respond.) You that woman?
Torrens
Maybe she can t talk.
Rooney
Can t you talk?
Ida
I can talk.
Calhoun
Where s Denny got off to?
Ida
I don t know anybody named Denny.
Rooney
We were told that he lived here with you.
Ida
Whoever told you that is wrong. I ve been here alone since my father died last summer.
Rooney
What do you supposed he seen in her? She ain t much to look at.
porter
My daddy said that before the war, he had himself a whole lotta nigra women an there ain t nothin like it.
Rooney
Is that right?
Torrens
We re here to find Matt Denny; not for anything else.
Rooney
I think you should tell us where he is. It ll go better for you.
Ida
I can t tell you what I don t know and I don t know any Matt Denny.
Rooney
What do you think?
Calhoun
I think she s lying. But I ll find out.
He pulls a Bowie knife from under his shirt and dismounts. Ida runs for the cabin but he grabs her before she reaches the door. He pulls her inside.
porter
Wait for me; I want some of that too.
Porter dismounts and follows Calhoun and Ida into the cabin. Rooney soon follows leaving Torrens alone sitting on his horse.
cut to:
int the cabin_day
Ida is tied to a chair and has been beaten.
Rooney
This ain t easy for us you know. All we want is Denny. He ain t nothing to you; he s a white man. And a bounty man. He got my brother sent to prison, and Calhoun s too. Why you want to suffer for a man like that? Why you want to die for him?
Ida
I told you, I don t know anything about him.
Rooney
We know different. Now I m going to ask you one more time and then I m going to turn you over to these two. I d suggest you think hard and tell the truth. You see, Calhoun here has a thing about cutting and Porter never has had a nigra woman. Now, if you ll tell us where he is, we ll just leave.
Ida
I don t know anything about him. Anybody who says I do is either wrong or lying.
Rooney
Looks like there s no use trying to be gentlemen with you. Go ahead, boys. She s all yours.
Rooney exits. Porter opens his pants.
Calhoun
Hold on there now. I go first.
He tears Ida s clothes from her.
cut to:
Ext cabin_day
Matthew returns to the cabin on horseback. He becomes suspicious when he sees the door open and no smoke coming from the chimney. He dismounts, draws his rifle and approaches the cabin stealthily. He goes into the cabin. A scream of horror is heard a moment later, then a number of quick gunshots. A raccoon with a bloody snout flees from the cabin. Matthew comes out a moment later, horrified. He falls down. He rises. He runs. He falls. He screams out.
cut to:
int the cabin_day
Ida is hanging upside down, a pool of blood on the floor under her head. She has been slashed open.
cut to:
Ext the cabin_day
Later. Matthew is shoveling the last bit of dirt onto Ida s grave. When finished, he says a silent prayer for her. After the prayer, he takes a small piece of metal from his pocket and examines it. It is the rowel of a spur. He replaces it in his pocket. He then goes into the cabin and returns with a kerosene lamp. He pours the kerosene on the side wall and sets the cabin afire. He then mounts and rides away.
cut to:
Ext forest_day
Matthew rides along a trail looking down at the ground. After a few moments, he gets down from his horse and examines the ground. He mounts again and rides on still examining the ground.
cut to:
Ext A town_day
The four men who murdered Ida ride into the town of Paxton. They look about them as they go, riding slowly. They stop before a barber shop. Rooney dismounts and goes in while the others remain mounted outside.
cut to:
int barber shop_day
Rooney enters the shop and looks about. The barber stops cutting a man s hair and smiles in greeting.
barber
Haircut and a shave, friend?
Rooney
No, thanks. I m looking for someone and thought you might know where he is.
barber
Who might that be?
Rooney
Matthew Denny. He s a bounty man.
barber.
Is that right? No, never heard of him. From around here?
Rooney
That s what we was told. He was here with a couple of escaped prisoners.
barber
Nobody s been brought in here for a month at least. Our jail s been unoccupied except for the occasional drunk. This here s the sheriff who ll vouch for that.
Rooney
That right?
sheriff
What are you looking for Matthew Denny for if I may ask.
Rooney
You know him, do you?
sheriff
I know him. What for?
Rooney
We re old friends of his. Real old friends.
sheriff
He ain t been in this town for months. Last Spring at least.
Rooney
That right?
sheriff
That s right.
Rooney
Well, thank you, sheriff. I m obliged. Thank you too, barber. I ll be back here for a cut and a shave just as soon as I can. Could use a bath too.
barber
New bathtub out back.
Rooney
Good. So long now.
Rooney exits.
Sheriff
If he s a friend, I m a horse.
cut to:
Ext outside the barber shop_day
Rooney returns to his horse.
Rooney
That s the sheriff in there.
Calhoun
The barber?
Rooney
The customer. Says Denny ain t been here since last Spring.
Porter
You believe him?
Rooney
Nope.
Rooney mounts and the four ride through the town, again looking about as they do so.
cut to:
Ext forest_day
Matthew continues tracking for a moment and then stops. He pats his horse s neck and speaks to it.
Matthew
They re going to Paxton. Must be looking for me. Won t they be surprised?
He rides on at a gallop.
cut to:
Ext the town_day
The four men come to the end of the town and dismount.
Calhoun
This was a wasted trip.
Rooney
Maybe not. I got some wanted posters here from the sheriff s office. My guess is he s gone after this one cause of the size of the bounty.
Porter
Makes sense to me.
Torrens
Are we sure that we want to find this guy? Especially now.
Calhoun
We don t have a choice, especially now. If we don t get him he ll come for us when he finds out.
Rooney
And we d best find him first before he does find out.
Torrens
It wasn t necessary, it wasn t necessary at all.
Calhoun
She was good though; ain t that right Porter?
porter
She was adequate. No different from white women though.
Torrens
You ain t got an ounce of decency in you, either of you.
porter
Then why don t you leave and let Denny find you on your own. (Torrens says nothing.) So much for decency.
Rooney
Let s get started. We ve got a long way to go.
Calhoun
I hope it s worth the effort. If we don t find him there, we re going to have to split up and try to find him alone.
Rooney
Long as we find him and pay him back.
The four mount their horses and ride off.
cut to:
Ext the town_day
Matthew rides into the town. He rides very cautiously. Very slowly.
cut to:
Ext the town_day
The Sheriff is sitting on a chair on the walk before his office. He sees Matthew and watches him closely. Matthew sees him and nods. The Sheriff nods back. He then rises from his chair and signals Matthew to come over. Matthew does so. The two men speak.
sheriff
Ain t been expecting to see you. Some men was here a few days ago looking for you. Said they were friends of yours.
Matthew
Not likely. Where d they go?
sheriff
West. Something wrong?
Matthew
Something.
sheriff
Maybe you should leave it to the law.
Matthew
Maybe. I m obliged, sheriff.
sheriff
Before you go, I got a new bunch of wanted posters in last month. Some pretty good rewards in them.
Matthew
Thanks but I got something to do first.
sheriff
Before a reward? What kind of bounty man are you?
Matthew tips his hat to the sheriff and rides on and out of the town.
cut to:
Ext among hills_day
The four men sit among the rocks smoking and talking.
Calhoun
We got to find him and the best way to find him is to split up. When one of us knows where he is, he can wire the other three and we ll take him on together.
porter
I don t like it. We were supposed to stick together. If he gets us one at a time, there s no telling whether he won t kill us all.
Rooney
If we follow plans that won t happen. Let s not forget that Denny s just a man like us. He s a successful bounty man but that don t make him no John Wesley Hardin. I m willing to bet that any one of us would stand a good chance against him. But if we follow plans none of us will have to do that.
Calhoun
I agree. Besides that, time s running out. He might go back to that cabin at any time now. And then he ll know we re looking for him and make himself harder to find. We want to end this and kill him as soon as we can.
Torrens
If he sees that woman he might come looking for us.
Rooney
You don t have to worry about that; no bounty man does any hunting for fun or out of revenge. They only track when there s money in it. He wouldn t come looking for us over no white woman never mind a nigra woman.
Torrens
I ain t so sure.
Calhoun
You re a natural born worrier, you are. It doesn t matter. He s going to be dead before he knows about that. Now let s get moving before he dies of old age.
They mount and ride away in different directions.
cut to:
Ext among hills_day
Matthew is again tracking the four men. He discovers the site where the four men last met and from which they split up. He looks over the ground carefully. He rolls a cigarette and smokes. He then mounts and rides off.
cut to:
Ext hills_night
Torrens is putting wood in a pile preparatory to building a fire. As he works, Matthew approaches. He comes up behind Torrens with his rifle out.
Matthew
Get up slowly and move away from the pile. Now, take that gun out of your holster with two fingers and place it on the ground. That s right. Now back away from it. Not that way; it s too close to the wood.
Torrens
You re Matt Denny.
Matthew
That s right. And who might you be?
Torrens
Al Torrens. I ain t wanted for nothing.
Matthew
You re wanted by me.
Torrens
For what?
Matthew
For murder.
Torrens
I didn t murder no one.
Matthew
One of your three friends did, eh? One of your three friends hung her up naked and gutted her like a deer, eh?
Torrens
How I don t know what you re talking about.
Matthew
Oh yes you do. And you re going to hang for it. You can take what comfort you like from knowing that nobody s going to gut you though.
Torrens
I didn t murder nobody.
Matthew
I tracked you here, friend. It s no good denying it. I tracked you from the cabin to Paxton and through them hills across the prairie to where you and the others split up and right to here.
Torrens
I was there but I didn t do nothing to her. It was the others. They were crazy to kill her. I tried to stop them but they near killed me.
Matthew
Tell it to a judge. Get your gear together.
Torrens
I don t know that my horse can take much more today; he s pretty tired already.
Matthew
Then you can walk but we re going now. I got other men to hunt.
Torrens
They ll kill you like they tried to do me.
Matthew
Let s go.
Torrens
I tell you I didn t do nothing. It was the others.
Matthew
All three of them?
Torrens
Yeah, all three.
Matthew
What s there names?
Torrens
I don t know. I just met them a day or so before. And I got away from them as soon as I could. They would ve killed me too. I m telling you the truth.
Matthew
Why are they looking for me?
Torrens
I don t know. Maybe you sent a friend to prison or something. They didn t say. I don t even know that they are looking for you.
Matthew
Let s go.
Torrens
But I m innocent.
Matthew
You going to move or am I going to tie you to your saddle?
Torrens
You re not taking me to the law; you re going to kill me. You re going to murder me. I m innocent I tell you.
Matthew
And I m telling you to get that horse saddled. (He fires between Torrens legs. Torrens jumps in the air.) The nExt one will be higher; you won t be able to jump. Now get moving.
Torrens moves toward his gear which is piled near the wood. As he bends to pick it up, Matthew bends over to retrieve the gun on the ground. Torrens grabs a piece of wood and hits him over the head. Torrens then hits Matthew in the face gashing his cheek. The two men struggle over the wood and then the guns.
Torrens gets the gun but Matthew shoots and kills him. Matthew then clutches the side of his face and falls to the ground.
cut to:
Ext a town_day
Matthew stands before the office of the sheriff. He is unshaven; the scar on his face is livid red. Torrens s body is draped across the back of a horse. The sheriff lifts Torrens s head by the hair, looks at him and lets it drop back. He shakes his head. He then points up the street. Matthew tips his hat and goes in that direction leading his own horse and Torrens s horse by their reins.
He stops before the barber shop. The barber comes out and looks over Torrens and his horse. He nods to Matthew and takes Torrens s body and horse away. Matthew continues on to the doctor's office where he ties his horse to a hitching post and enters.
cut to:
int doctor s office_day
The doctor is sewing the wound on Matthew s face without anesthetic. Matthew winces but says nothing.
cut to:
Ext a town_day
Rooney stands outside a saloon where three elderly men sit on chairs. They talk among themselves until Rooney interrupts them.
Rooney
Say there, I m looking for somebody who comes through here, a bounty man name of Matthew Denny. Any of you codgers know him?
They listen to him and then shake their heads one after the other. Rooney crosses the street to the office of the sheriff but it is locked. He then stands and looks about the town while trying to determine what to do nExt. He re_crosses the street and goes into the saloon.
cut to:
Ext a forest_day
Matthew is tracking in the woods walking ahead of his horse when he hears the sound of a Winchester being cocked behind him. He turns suddenly and reaches for his pistol but stops when he sees a black man with a rifle pointed at his head. He raises his hands. The black man smiles. He is Ida s brother and has been seeking Matthew since he learned of her death.
carlyle
If I kill you now, I ll have the world of problems with bounty men and lawmen after me. But if you was to go for your gun and I was to defend myself, it would be a justifiable killing. So why don t you just oblige me? Only take a split second and save us both a lot of trouble.
Matthew
If you re going to kill me, it ll have to be in cold blood. I m not going to help you. What s to keep you from doing it and saying I went for my sidearm?
carlyle
That would be a lie. You wouldn t want me to lie now would you, Matthew Denny? I don t mind killing you but I ain t going to lie about it. You see, my mama brought me up to tell the truth. Now it s true I m a highwayman and all that. But I ain t no liar. Besides, I never could get away with it, always gave myself away somehow or other. No, you ll have to go for your pistol or I won t be able to kill you.
Matthew
You won t kill me anyway.
carlyle
Why s that?
Matthew
Black man gets hung for killing a white man, self defense or no self defense.
carlyle
You may be right about that. But they d have to find me first. Even the great Matthew Denny, the Tracker, couldn t do that.
Matthew
I wasn t looking for you.
carlyle
Now, don t go hurting my feelings. There s no call to be doing that. Besides, if you feel confident I won t kill you, just do something dumb and see.
Matthew
No, I don t think I will.
carlyle
What d you do to my sister, Matthew Denny?
Matthew
I don t know your sister, do I?
carlyle
Ida was my sister. Richard Corliss was my pa. Now I don t think I m going to ask again what you done to my sister.
Matthew
I didn t do anything to your sister. She was good to me and I loved her.
carlyle
That s very moving but no white man ever loved no black woman.
Matthew
I did. That s why I m hunting the men that killed her. I got one of them but there s three more. Didn t see any of them come through here, did you?
carlyle
How would I know them if I did? All white men?
Matthew
All white men.
carlyle
I ll help you find them.
Matthew
You re a fugitive yourself.
carlyle
Got that right. But I want to kill the men who done what they done to my sister Ida. Don t matter if I go to jail for it, or even hang.
Matthew
I ll bring them in and see that they hang, if they don t force me to kill them.
carlyle
How do I know whether I should believe you?
Matthew
Do you have a choice? You don t know anything about them; you d never find them.
carlyle
You re probably right. They say you re just about the best man hunter alive, though you don t look like you re alive by much. I m going to trust you Matthew Denny. If I find out you lied to me though, I ll find you and kill you.
Matthew
Fair enough. If you don t mind, I ll be going now. I have things to do.
carlyle
You go on. Don t forget what I said.
cut to:
Ext plains_day
Calhoun rides over the plains. About him there is emptiness as far as one can see. He rides easy, as though he has no place to go and is in no hurry to get there.
cut to:
Ext hills_day
Porter is examining his horse s leg. The horse is lame. Porter becomes angry and kicks the dirt and throws his hat down. He unsaddles the horse and lets it roam about. He takes the gear up on his shoulder and begins walking. As he comes from behind a clump of trees a town appears on the distant horizon. Porter walks toward it getting smaller as he walks.
cut to:
Ext plains_day
Matthew approaches the town toward which Porter is walking. He does not see him until he nears the town. Even when he sees him, he does not know that this is the man he s hunting. Matthew approaches Porter to offer assistance when he notices that Porter is missing a rowel from his left spur. He stops abruptly. Porter has not yet noticed him. Matthew dismounts and calls to Porter who turns to look at him. Porter puts his gear down on the ground. He smiles. Matthew holds up the rowel that he s been carrying since he discovered Ida s body. Porter looks down at his boot. He then puts his hands in the air.
porter
I ain t resisting. I done nothing wrong and I ain t resisting.
Matthew
I didn t say you did anything wrong.
porter
I know where you got that rowel. I know what you think. And I know who you are. I ain t giving you the chance to shoot me.
Matthew
You seem to know a lot.
porter
I was there. I saw it. But I didn t take part. It sickened me, what they did. Calhoun and Torrens did it. Calhoun did the cutting. Rooney told them to do it. I never even got off my horse.
Matthew
That means you never did nothing to stop them either.
porter
What could I do against the three of them? I ain t no pistolero. They d a killed me sure. They don t think you re following them. They think you re away hunting somebody else.
Matthew
That why you re hunting me?
porter
I ain t hunting nobody. My horse went lame on me a few miles back. How could I hunt anybody on foot?
Matthew
We re going into town and I m turning you over to the sheriff. Leave your gear where it is.
porter
Somebody ll steal it.
Matthew
You won t be needing it.
porter
I didn t do nothing. You got to believe me.
Matthew
That s for the law to decide. Take your sidearm out with two fingers and drop it on the pile. (Porter does so.) Now, start walking.
Porter walks ahead with his hands in the air. Matthew rides behind him with his rifle pointed at him.
cut to:
Ext town_day
Porter walks in before Matthew. The few townspeople they pass stop to watch them. A few talk among themselves. Matthew leads Porter to the town sheriff s office where he turns him over to the lawman. They talk quietly for a moment. The sheriff takes custody of Porter and motions him into the office. Matthew dismounts. The sheriff returns.
sheriff
You know, they don t hang nobody for killing niggras, friend. Man or woman, I ain t never heard of it. Not once. And this bird says he didn t do it. It s going to be hard to find a jury to convict on this one.
Matthew
There s always a first time, ain t there?
sheriff
Yeah, there s always a first time. But is this it?
Matthew
You hold him for trial and we ll find out.
sheriff
There s a lot of Southerners in this town. Wouldn t be surprised if they demanded that I let him go.
Matthew
You do what your conscience tells you sheriff and everything will come out all right.
Matthew turns his horse and leaves while the sheriff watches him go.
cut to:
int jail_evening
The sheriff enters the room where Porter sits in a cell. He unlocks the cell and lets Porter out.
sheriff
You go on now and get the hell out of here. Don t let me see you in this town again or you ll hang. Go on.
porter
Thank you, sheriff. Thanks awfully.
sheriff
Go on with you. Get out of my town and don t come back.
Porter exits.
cut to:
Ext the prairie_evening
Porter leaves the town on foot and goes in search of his gear. He walks out onto the prairie. He returns to where he dropped his gear when overtaken by Matthew. The gear is there as is Matthew who has been waiting for him. When he sees Matthew, Porter goes for his gun which is still atop the pile of gear. Matthew shoots him down with his rifle. He then walks away into the night.
cut to:
Ext town_day
Calhoun and Rooney are on a street before a saloon. They are tying up their horses to a hitching post. Calhoun is remonstrating with Rooney who is trying to calm him down. Calhoun is obviously frightened. Rooney is nervous and Calhoun is making him more so.
Calhoun
How do we know he s not right behind us? How do we know he s not on his way here? We don t. All we know is that Torrens and Porter are dead and we ll be too if we don t do something.
Rooney
We will do something but I have to think, we can t act too fast and make a mistake.
Calhoun
We don t have time to think about it. He s after us now. Matthew Denny is hunting us.
Rooney
We ll be all right; just don t panic. We ll get him like we set out to do.
Calhoun
You re crazy; you know that?
Rooney
We ll get him. Trust me. He s not a ghost or a spirit. He s not immortal. He can die and we re going to kill him. I m just not sure how to go about it yet.
Calhoun
Half a dozen men have tried to kill him and failed. I went along with you this far but I m not going along any more. I m not going to end up like Torrens and Porter.
Rooney
Neither am I, friend. Let s have a drink.
Calhoun
It ll take more than one.
They exit into the saloon.
cut to:
Ext prairie_day
Matthew rides his horse over the prairie. He appears determined and single minded in his pursuit of the remaining murderers.
cut to:
int saloon_day
Rooney buys drinks for himself and Calhoun. Calhoun drinks his right down and orders two more.
Calhoun
Might as well enjoy our last few minutes while we wait for him to come here and kill us.
Rooney
No. We re not going to wait. We re going to go after him before he comes here for us.
Calhoun
Is that the idea you ve come up with? We re going after him?
That s what we ve been doing, or haven t you noticed? We ve been following the son of a bitch all over the territory only to find out that he s been hunting us like we was animals or something.
Rooney
That s right. Now his hunting of us is what we re going to use to kill him. We ll trap him and get him before he gets us.
Calhoun
If he could get Torrens, what chance do we have?
Rooney
Torrens didn t know he was being hunted. We do. We better not waste any time. Unless you want to wait here to die.
Calhoun
Not me. One more drink.
Rooney
One more. But then we have to go.
They have one more drink which they pour down. They leave money and exit.
cut to:
Ext town_night
It s dark when Matthew enters the town. He talks to his horse.
Matthew
I feel a chill old fella. Something s wrong about this place. I don t know what it is but I can feel it. They re here, or at least they ve been here. And they know I m looking for them.
He stops and dismounts. He then leads the horse away from the town s main street to a back street where he finds a blacksmith.
Matthew
Take care of him for me, will you? He needs a feed and a watering and brush him down.
blacksmith
I sure will, sir.
Matthew
Here you are.
He turns the horse over to the blacksmith and pays in advance. He takes his rifle from the holster behind his saddle.
blacksmith
Thank you, sir. I ll take good care of him.
Matthew
You happen to see any strangers around here lately? Last day or two? Maybe two men together? They would ve come from the east most likely.
blacksmith
Yes. There were two like that. About thirty years old or so I d say. They didn t leave their horses with me.
Matthew
Are they still here?
blacksmith
Matter of fact, they left here just yesterday, late in the afternoon. I saw them ride out, they were headed south.
Matthew
Thank you. I appreciate it.
blacksmith
Don t know what they thought they d find down south. All that s south is cow towns and Mexico.
Matthew
Every man has his own idea of paradise I guess. Thanks again.
cut to:
Ext prairie_day
Calhoun and Rooney ride hard over the prairie.
cut to:
Ext prairie_day
Matthew rides hard over the prairie in pursuit of Rooney and Calhoun. In the distance is hill country. He rides in that direction.
cut to:
Ext hills_day
The day is waning when Matthew reaches the hills. He stops and dismounts to permit his horse to drink from a stream. He also drinks and fills a canteen. As he turns to rise, two shots are fired. One shot hits the place where he had just been; the other hits the horse which falls dead. Matthew looks about for cover and dives into the stream as two more shots are fired. He sinks down and swims to the center under water. More bullets leave trails in the water. Matthew is unhurt. He swims until he must come up for air. When he does so, he looks about but can see no one. More shots cause him to go under again. When he surfaces, he is near a clump of trees and bushes. He leaves the water and crouches behind bushes where he waits. When he is sure that the shooters have gone he returns to his horse.
cut to:
Ext near the stream_day
As darkness comes, Matthew is digging a grave for the horse. His saddle and other gear are piled nearby. His rifle and pistol are close to hand.
cut to:
Ext a ranch_day
Matthew enters walking with his gear over his shoulder. He approaches the house. As he does so, a woman comes out. He drops his gear when she does so.
Matthew
Hello, Ma am. My horse died on me and I ve been walking a long time. If you have a horse for sale, I d be glad to buy it.
woman
We have plenty. You look worn out though, stranger. If you d like a meal and a place to rest, you re welcome.
Matthew
Thank you, Ma am. I appreciate the offer but I have to be moving on. I have business some miles south of here that won t wait.
woman
Suit yourself. Go on to the barn and my wrangler ll give you a horse.
Matthew
Thank you, ma am.
woman
You sure are well mannered, ain t you? Feel free to stop back when your business is done.
Matthew
I ll do that if I can. And I thank you again.
Matthew walks to the barn.
cut to:
int. barn_day
Matthew enters and finds the wrangler there.
Matthew
The lady outside told me to see you about buying a horse.
wrangler
Saw the boss, did you? I ll bet she invited you to stay. What happened to your horse?
Matthew
Died on the trail.
wrangler
Good thing you weren t too far to get here. There s not another within thirty miles. We have some horses here you can choose from. They re all good ones. We ve been lucky in our breeding. It s kept us going for some years now.
Matthew
What do you charge?
wrangler
I can let you have one for twenty dollars. Give you a receipt too. Everything done proper.
Matthew
It s a bit more than I planned but it ll do.
wrangler
You look familiar. Like I ve seen you somewhere.
Matthew
It s possible; I ve been lots of places. How about that roan?
wrangler
I ll say you ve been around. You re Matt Denny, ain t you?
Matthew
The roan?
wrangler
Sure thing. That s a good choice. Broke him myself. You didn t have that scar when I saw you last. About three years ago it was.
Matthew
The roan will do just fine.
cut to:
Ext hills_night
Calhoun and Rooney squat behind rocks in the dark.
Rooney
It s getting cold out here. Let s build a fire and make some coffee. We can build it in that cleft in the rocks; nobody ll see it there. Besides, we can use the light.
Calhoun
Nothing doing. The moon is bright enough and I ain t giving him a chance to find us that he don t have now. He knows we re after him; he ll be coming.
Rooney
If you didn t miss him twice we wouldn t have to worry about him coming after us.
Calhoun
He s the luckiest son of a bitch I ever saw. But he won t get away again. You can bet the farm on that.
Rooney
What makes you think he ll come tonight?
Calhoun
A feeling.
Rooney
So we re going to spend the night freezing in these rocks because you have a feeling? We should be in town in a bed.
Calhoun
Would you like him to come in on you while you re sleeping in a bed in town? Don t forget that this was your idea in the first place.
Rooney
It was all our idea. It was either get him or he d get us. Don t forget that he got Hanning.
Calhoun
I m not forgetting anything but Hanning s a big boy who can take care of himself. All we ve managed to do is get ourselves a mess of trouble on his behalf and he s still in jail and likely to be hung for all our trouble.
Rooney
It s too late to go back now.
Calhoun
I know that. We could light out though.
Rooney
Where? Where can we go that he won t find us? Where won t he track us? We re like game being hunted by a damned Indian. He ain t going to give up. We killed his woman, tried to kill him twice and almost succeeded once. He ain t going to give up even if we were to go to China. We got to kill him.
Calhoun
We will. Tonight if he comes.
cut to:
int a hotel_night
Matthew enters. He asks for a room, pays for the night, takes the key and walks up the stairs.
cut to:
Ext town_day
It is early morning. The sun is just coming up on an empty main street. Only a lone dog crosses the street.
cut to:
Ext prairie_day
It is early morning. The prairie is empty and quiet in the rising sun.
cut to:
Ext prairie_day
A prairie dog emerges from its hole, looks about at the morning and then hurries back into the hole.
cut to:
int livery stable_day
Matthew leads his horse out of its stall, mounts and rides off.
cut to:
Ext hills_day
Rooney and Calhoun saddle their horses, mount and ride away.
cut to:
Ext hills_day
Matthew enters on his horse. He dismounts and ties the horse to a tree. He takes his rifle from its holster and climbs up into the hills.
cut to:
Ext hills_day
Calhoun and Rooney enter on horseback. They are very cautious.
Rooney
I don t think we need to be so cautious. He s probably not within fifty miles of us.
Calhoun
I wouldn t want to bet my life on it which is what we ll be doing if you re wrong and we blunder into him.
Rooney
We re not going to blunder into him.
Calhoun
There s no reason not to take precautions.
Rooney
All right. Just let s get moving. I still don t understand why you would think that he could find our trail, track us and be ahead of us before we got here. He s a good tracker but not that good.
Calhoun
I rather assume that he is that good.
cut to:
Ext hills_day
Matthew is concealed among rocks and bushes. He follows the two men below him with his rifle. When they are clear of obstructions, he fires killing Rooney. Calhoun drops from his horse but is unhurt. He scurries for cover behind some rocks.
cut to:
Ext hills_day
Calhoun is frightened witless. His hands tremble. He removes the Bowie knife that is concealed in his shirt and pushes it under a rock. He looks for his horse but the horse has bolted with his rifle. He takes his pistol from its holster. He raises his hands with the pistol in his left and comes out from behind the rocks. He walks a few steps forward and stops.
Calhoun
Don t shoot. I give up. Don t shoot.
He looks at Rooney s body lying on the ground.
Calhoun
You killed him. You murdered my partner. Don t shoot.
cut to:
Ext hills_day
Matthew keeps his rifle aimed at Calhoun.
Matthew
Drop the gun and back away from it.
Calhoun does so. Matthew comes down from the hill.
Calhoun
You re him. You re Matt Denny. They said you were following them. They said you d find them. I don t know what they did but they were afraid you d find them. Don t shoot me.
Matthew
Who was afraid?
Calhoun
Rooney and Porter. And the other one. I didn t even get his name. He was the most scared. They said you d come after them.
Matthew
And you? What s your name?
Calhoun
Me? I m just a drifter. I fell in with them only a few days ago. Just before they split up. Rooney was going south so I joined him. My name s Travis. Henry Travis.
Matthew
You re a good liar Calhoun. Not as good a liar as a butcher but a good one.
Calhoun
Calhoun? I don t know any Calhoun. My name s Travis I tell you. Here. Check here in my pocket. I can prove it. I got identification.
Matthew
Back away from that gun. Very slowly.
Calhoun steps back to where he concealed the knife.
Calhoun
You got the wrong man, Mr. Denny. I had nothing to do with what they did. I don t even know what it was. But I had nothing to do with it.
Matthew
You just keep saying that and we’ll see if a jury believes it. Or if they hang you like you deserve.
Calhoun
I m innocent I tell you. Innocent.
Matthew
You ll get your chance to prove it. Start moving. That way.
Calhoun goes for the knife. Matthew fires but misses. Calhoun comes up throwing. The knife sticks into Matthew s side. He fires, killing Calhoun. He then drops his rifle and staggers toward his horse, pulling the knife from his side and throwing it away as he does so. He manages to get to his horse and mounts it with a great effort. He rides off.
cut to:
Ext prairie_day
As the sun goes down, Matthew rides toward the west, slumped over on his horse. A moment later, he falls from the horse to the ground. The horse stops and grazes.
The End