“JULIE”
Season 1, Episode #6
Director: William Hale Teleplay by: Paul Playdon
Story by : Don Brinkley & Paul Playdon
Guest Stars: Lucas: Bruce Dern
Julie: Susan Strasberg Wade: Val Avery
Jonas: Lincoln Tate Sheriff Cutler: John Kellogg
“JULIE”
SCENE 1:
Opens with the shot of the main street of a town. We see the stage coming down the street, it stops and several passengers exit.
Inside the depot. One of the stage drivers walks in, announcing: The stage is in, we’ll be leaving in three minutes. Three minutes.
The three Lancer men are inside. Murdoch is on the left, wearing his hat and looking at slip of paper he’s holding in his two hands. Johnny is in the center, bareheaded and leaning on a counter. Johnny has on his usual pink shirt with the embroidery. Scott is on the right, standing up straight with his hands clasped in front of him. Scott is wearing his hat and his nice blue-grey jacket with the leather trim. Scott turns towards Murdoch.
SL: How long will you be gone?
ML: A day. Two days at the outside.
JL: Now look, Murdoch, if you want Scott and I to go with you, I mean, we’ll help ya out.
ML chuckles, and both boys grin. ML: I’ve been haggling prices at cattle auctions since before you two were born. We still have a four-day ride back to the ranch though, so you boys better relax, enjoy yourselves while you can.
JL: What, here, in this town?
Johnny straightens up from the counter as Murdoch starts to exit. JL begins to follow him, still talking: The only thing’s gonna liven up this place’s a funeral.
Both boys laugh as the Lancers exit the depot. Murdoch turns back to speak to them.
ML: You’ll find something to do, I’ll take bets on it.
Murdoch quickly gets into the stage, Johnny shuts the door behind him. The brothers are bending down to see him off.
JL: Have a good trip.
Scott just waves one hand. The stage takes off immediately.
Scott turns away, hands on hips looking around.
JL: For the next two days we’re gonna do nothing but watch the dust settle.
SL: I don’t know . . . that might have some possibilities.
He has his right hand on a post, gestures off camera with his left.
Camera moves in on a sign: CHURCH DANCE tonight All Welcome 8 o’clock
JL: What, a church dance?
He reaches up to put his arm around Scott’s shoulders, turning him to face down the street. We can see a pretty dark haired young woman in a dark colored dress.
JL: Hey, now look at that.
Camera returns to the girl, who probably knows she is being watched and discussed.
JL’s voice: Nothing wrong with that, is there?
SL’s voice: That’s very nice, if you can convince her to go with you.
The young woman walks away, gathering her skirts as she mounts a set of steps near a barber pole.
SL”s voice: Care for a few pointers? (he says “pointahs”)
Shot of the boys again.
JL: No thank you—he starts to walk after the young lady, but Scott grabs his arm.
SL: Wait. Now don’t be too hasty. I’ve found in my experience that there’s a real art to asking a young lady out. (holding onto JL with his right hand, SL gestures with his left as he speaks)
JL: Scott, I’ll be back in five minutes, okay. . . (he breaks free and moves off screen)
The camera stays on Scott, who keeps talking: Wait a minute, there’s a . . . . . . art to handling a woman.. . . (He stands there, hands on hips, watching his brother)
The camera shifts to Johnny. His young lady is holding something in her hand that she is looking at when he comes up to stand near her.
JL: Do you like it? (she hands it to him) It’s kinda pretty.
The camera shifts to another dark-haired woman in a light colored dress wearing a lacy knit shawl over her shoulders. This is the title character, “Julie”, but we don’t know that yet. She is standing in a doorway and seems to be scanning the street.
Back to Johnny. His young lady is walking away from him.
JL: Uh, ma’am? (she stops, turns to face him) Excuse me, um, my name’s Johnny. . I work on a ranch about a hundred miles south of here. Well, I saw this sign, it said there was a dance tonight---
The dark haired woman steps abruptly off screen; Johnny stares after her, with an unhappy expression, then a faint hint of a rueful smile. . .
Back to Scott, who has seen it all, glances downward with a little smile, then looks over to his left and spies Julie still standing in the doorway of the stage depot. She steps back inside a bit, and the camera continues on down the street, glides over a team of horses and stops on two men sitting together on a wagon seat. Ominous music plays.
Julie is still looking around, then one of the men starts to climb down from the wagon seat. He has a stubbled face and is wearing a jacket. Julie goes inside the building.
Scott has been watching her. He turns and looks at the Church Dance sign behind him, then checks his reflection in a window and adjusts his hat. He heads towards the depot with a determined air.
He enters the room, which appears to be empty except for Julie. There is a counter and part of the space is divided by a low railing. Scott looks around, Julie barely glances at him, she is staring out the window. Scott walks slowly around her, gets to the far side and then peers out the window himself. Turning, he looks directly at her, feigns recognition and removes his hat.
SL: Miss Colefax!
Julie turns to face him.
SL, smiling: What are you doing in California?
Julie: What?
SL: Two years ago, in Baltimore, don’t you remembah? It’s me, Scott Lancer.
He holds his hat in both hands, sometimes gesturing with his right.
Julie: I’m sorry, but you must be mistaken, excuse me. (she heads for the door)
Scott gets there at the same time.
SL: Why, I don’t think that’s possible. . . . I don’t see how I could forget meeting . . . a beautiful young lady like Miss Colefax.
Julie: Look, I don’t mean to be blunt, but I really don’t know you and I don’t know this Miss. . . . (she walks back towards the interior of the room, putting her hand to her head.)
SL: Well, please accept my apologies . . .
The camera shifts so that we are now looking out the window. The two men from the wagon are outside. Scott’s voice is heard as they approach the window and peer in.
SL’s voice: Well, the resemblance, it’s absolutely. . . it’s amazing.
Close up of Julie, she sees the two men outside, then looks up at Scott. Shot of him looking back at her, then close up of Julie again.
Julie: Resemblance?
SL: I beg your pardon?
Julie (her eyes shift to the window, then back to Scott) Oh, ah, no, I should be the one to apologize. (she starts to smile and looks very pretty when she does so) You must have thought that I was terribly rude. I’m Julie Barrett. . .Mister. . .??
SL: Uh, Lancer. Scott Lancer.
Camera shifts to Julie, then to her view through the window as Scott continues speaking.
SL: Ah . . there’s a dance tonight at the Church and I was wondering, well, if you’re not busy . . .
JB, smiling: Oh, Mr. Lancer, I would be delighted to go with you.
SL, correcting her: Scott. (he seems both surprised and pleased by her acceptance, though trying not to show it.)
JB: Scott. As a matter of fact, if you’re not busy this afternoon, perhaps we could spend it together. I just have one errand to do.
SL shakes his head a bit, he clearly cannot believe his good fortune here.
SL: That’s a great idea, I don’t have anything to do this afternoon.
Julie hands him something.
JB: Also, would you hold this for me for safekeeping?
SL, accepting the envelope: You can depend upon it, Miss Barrett.
JB: Thank you.
She pulls at his shoulder, then gives him a kiss on the cheek. We can’t exactly see this, but the side of SL’s face that is visible is very expressive, especially the movements of his eyebrows. He looks momentarily surprised, then somewhat pleased with himself.
Julie looks up at Scott and sighs a little. Through the window, we can see the two men, talking, but the words are no audible. The stubble faced man in the jacket is gesturing for his stocky friend in the vest to move off in the opposite direction.
SL, holding the envelope: Miss Barrett, I will, uh, treasure this until your return.
He smiles down at her.
JB: I’ll just be a few minutes. (she moves towards the door)
Scott starts to tuck the envelop into his jacket, when the stubble-faced man enters and knocks him over the head. Scott drops to the floor. His billfold and Julie’s envelope are on the floor beside him. The intruder pulls a gun on Julie, who is standing near the door, then mutters something to her that we can’t hear over the dramatic music. When he goes towards the back of the room where his partner is entering, Julie bends down near Scott. When she gets up, the billfold and envelope are no longer visible.
The stubble-faced man sits down on a bench, very slowly and deliberately crosses his legs and points the gun in Julie’s direction: Now, Miss Barrett. . . that was quite a little chase you led us on, now, wasn’t it?
Julie looks apprehensive, then bolts for the door. The heavier set man in the vest follows her, but his partner jumps up off the bench: Let her go, let her. . . .
He shuts the door and then continues speaking: We don’t need her any more.
The two men turns and stare down at the floor.
The man in the vest agrees: Yeah, I guess you’re right. Shall I do it now, Lucas?
Lucas (the stubble-faced man): Well, I’ll tell ya, it’s a long way back there. We’d be a lot better off with him dead.
His friend nods in agreement.
Lucas, softly: Yeah, go ahead ‘n do it right now.
We see Scott lying unconscious on the floor. Just as the gun starts to lower towards his head, we hear a new voice: You hold it right there.
The Sheriff has just entered. He wears a vest with a star-shaped badge, over a shirt. He is wearing a dark colored hat and his gun is drawn.
Sheriff: Put the gun away. (the man complies) What’s goin’ on here?
Lucas leans on the counter, one hand on his hip: Sheriff, we were just comin’ to pay you a visit, as a matter of fact, weren’t we, Wade?
Wade, nodding: Truth.
Lucas moves towards the Sheriff. Although we can’t see Scott, Lucas is clearly stepping over him.
Lucas: You see, we’re bounty hunters, Wade and I. My name’s Lucas Thatcher---
He extends his hand, but the Sheriff makes no move to shake with him. After a pause, Lucas continues speaking: This here’s Wade Hackett.
The Sheriff’s expression resembles that of a man with a bad taste in his mouth.
LT: This man down here on the floor is worth 2500 dollars. (big smile) Ten percent of that goes to you, Sheriff.
Shot of the Sheriff’s face—his expression has not changed.
LT, looks down at Scott: So if you’ll just let us proceed here with our business, we’ll send you the money just as soon as we get it.
The two bounty hunters lift Scott into an upright position.
Sheriff: Now hold it. You’re not going anywhere ‘cept to my office. I want to hear the whole story. (Lucas starts to protest) Right now!!
Wade Hackett is now the only one holding Scott, who seems to be standing on his feet, but bent over.
Sheriff, gesturing with gun towards Lucas: Come on, let’s go---
The Sheriff marches them out the door at gunpoint, the two bounty hunters holding Scott between them.
SCENE 2
At the livery, the stable man is snoozing in a chair with his feet up on a wooden block. Julie enters.
JB: Sir, excuse me, do you rent rigs?
Stableman: Two dollars a day and ten dollars deposit.
She starts to fish around in her purse for some money, at which point he quickly puts his feet down and stands. He is back to us, but we can tell that he takes the money she offers and tucks it into a pants pocket.
Stableman: Take me about fifteen minutes to hitch it up, might as well come back then.
She considers this, then looks in her purse again.
JB: Also, would you do me a great favor?
Stableman, nodding: Uh huh
JB: There is a young man who is in the Sheriff’s jail now. If about an hour after I’ve left, you would give this to him, I would appreciate it.
She hands him a billfold.
Close up of Stableman, he is wearing a vest and has a receding hairline: You’re a might fancy lookin’ lady ta have friends in jail.
JB, sighing: Also, if when you see him, you would tell him . . . that I’m very sorry, and that I hope that he’ll forgive me.
Stableman nods and smiles. Julie exits, and he studies the billfold in his hands. Apparently, it belongs to Scott.
He opens up the billfold, reacts at the amount of cash inside, closes it and then looks around the empty stable. Giving in to temptation, he removes the bills, folding them and stuffing them into his shirt pocket.
SCENE 3
Sudden shift to a chair being turned and a close up of an unconscious Scott, his head resting on the chairback.
Voice of Lucas Thatcher: Now the man’s name is Jonas Barrett. And when he wakes up, I’m sure he’s gonna tell ya that it’s something else than that. But one year ago, him and two other men robbed a bank in Denver.
Sheriff: You got any proof?
LT: Yes sir, I do. A wanted poster.
He hands the paper to the Sheriff and we see a close up of it on screen.
WANTED
For Murder and Bank Robbery
JONAS BARRETT
Description
Age 25 Fair Hair Blue Eyes Tall
$2500 REWARD
The Sheriff examines the Wanted poster, reading it aloud.
He folds up the poster, slaps it against one hand.
Sheriff: Don’t exactly prove that he is, don’t exactly prove that he isn’t.
Meanwhile, Scott starts to stir. He’s coming around, we hear a moan, he leans forward, then puts a hand to his head.
Sheriff: What’s your name, Boy?
SL, after a pause: What?
Sheriff: What’s your name? (Scott looks pained and confused) I asked you a question, what’s your name?
SL: Scott Lancer. Now do you mind telling me what’s going on----
LT: C’mon Sheriff. I just told ya that the man would say a different name from what I told ya.
SL: Wait a minute, I have a . . . (he starts to search inside his jacket) . . . I had a billfold.
LT: He had a billfold.
He looks over at his partner Wade as he says this. Wade has made himself at home, with a cup of coffee and his feet up on a table.
Sheriff, harshly, to Scott: Where were you a year ago?
SL, pauses, then answers in a challenging tone: Why?
Sheriff: Just tell me.
SL: I was back East. Now why?
LT, addresses the Sheriff, loudly and angrily: He wasn’t back East! I just told you he was in Denver, Colorado and he killed a bank guard!!
The Sheriff gets up and walks away from where Scott is seated.
SL: Now, I don’t know who you’ve mistaken me for Mister, but I’ve never been in Denver!
LT adjust his hat. The Sheriff turns and stares at Scott.
LT, to Sheriff, while gesturing towards Scott: Everyone of ‘em is exactly like that, don’t you know that?!
The Sheriff removes his hat, runs his hand through his hair. Wade crosses in the background, getting himself a refill on the coffee.
LT, to Sheriff: They’d lie until the sun froze over if they thought’d do ‘em any good.
The Sheriff rubs the back of his neck while Lucas is speaking, then puts his hat back on.
LT: Now come on, we have a lot of proof.
SL: Now wait a minute---
LT to Sheriff: You gonna shut the man up?!
SL to Sheriff: Now will you just listen to me?!
Sheriff, to Scott: In a minute---- (then he speaks to Lucas) You said you got some other proof.
LT, pointing at Scott: Now, one month ago, this man sent word to his sister, a Miss Julie Barrett, back East, that she should come out here and meet with him. (camera shifts to Scott, who is listening intently) and bring him some money. So my partner there—(camera shifts to Wade, who has returned to his previous position with his feet up on the table) and I, we followed her.
Wade: Yeah.
LT: And she brought us right here---(points at Scott) to him. (Scott looks stunned)
LT, continues: And just before you came in there, she gave him an envelope.
Thatcher sits with his hands in front of his face, fingers interlaced. Both he and the Sheriff stare at Scott.
Close up of Scott, disbelief on his face. He lowers his eyes slightly as realization hits. The Sheriff walks over to him—Scott is still seated in a wooden chair—and he takes the envelope out of the inside pocket of Scott’s jacket. Scott shakes his head and smiles ruefully. As the Sheriff stands next to him and opens the envelope, Scott points at it.
SL: Now Sheriff, I can explain that---
LT: Now if you’ll just let us carry on with our business, Sheriff. . ..
Sheriff: I said I’d. . I’d hear him out. Go ahead. (Camera shifts to Lucas’ unhappy face while the Sheriff is still speaking)
Close up on Scott: Now my name is Scott Lancer. My brother and I are on a cattle- buying trip and we’re just passing through this town.
Sheriff: Where’s your brother now?
SL: Over at the stage depot.
The Sheriff glances at Lucas.
SL, gesturing angrily: Well, go on---look!!!!
The Sheriff sends a (previously unseen) deputy to go check this out.
Sheriff: See if there’s anyone there.
Once the deputy gets to the door, Lucas has a comment: Better be careful there, lad, there was more’n one man in on that robbery.
There is a pause while the deputy and the sheriff consider this, then the man exits and Scott continues.
SL, speaking quickly and emphatically: This girl that they’re talking about, it’s true, I did meet her at the stage depot and she did give me that envelope. She must have taken my billfold before she took off—before that, I never saw her!! (camera shifts to poker-faced Sheriff) We were total strangers!
LT, softly: Total strangers. Total strangers. (Then he points accusingly at Scott.) Sheriff, why don’t you look at the little red there just below his lip, what would you say that is, lip rouge? Huh?
Scott rather guiltily rubs at his face with one hand.
SL: Now Sheriff, she must have done that to make them believe that I was this Jonas person, whoever he is.
Camera shifts to LT’s disbelieving face, while Scott’s voice continues: I swear to you, I never saw her before that.
The Sheriff has listened carefully, his expression doesn’t give anything away.
Sheriff sighs: Inside.
Scott reacts with some frustration.
LT: That’s right.
He sits on the Sheriff’s desk while the Sheriff escorts Scott to his cell.
SCENE 4
Johnny is seen walking down the sidewalk alongside the deputy. As JL passes out of the shot, we see Julie driving a one-horse rig down the main street.
Inside the jail, the camera is on the Sheriff, seated in a chair, looking as a few pieces of paper. We seem to be joining the conversation in progress.
Sheriff: Well, what you’re sayin’ is he ain’t Jonas Barrett (he gestures with the papers towards the cell behind him) but you got no way of provin’ it.
The camera pulls away and we can see Lucas Thatcher standing behind the Sheriff with his arms outstretched against the two sides of a doorframe. Scott is behind Thatcher, seated in the cell. Johnny is in the foreground, back to us, standing listening to the Sheriff with his hands behind his back.
Sheriff (folds up the papers while he speaks): All these prove is that you’re. . you’re supposed to be some fellow named Johnny Lancer and that’s got nothin’ to do with this.
Close up on Johnny, who collects his papers.
JL: He’s my brother, Sheriff, that’s all I can tell you, he is my brother.
Camera shows us that the Sheriff and Thatcher are not convinced.
JL: Look, now why don’t you wire Denver, get ‘em to wire a description of this man Jonas?
Sheriff: Well, the telegraph lines don’t go through here til August.
LT: Sheriff, I’m really gettin’ impatient now! I can’t tell you who that man is, but I can tell ya that he’s definitely involved.
Thatcher puts his arms down and walks to the right, around the stove. The Sheriff removes his hat.
LT: Now I don’t happen to have a wanted poster on ‘im, so that means that for right now he happens to be clear. (he points to Scott in the cell, and raises his voice) But not him!! He is not clear! I have presented you with plenty of evidence for us to take him with us right now!
JL: Will you just hold on a minute?
LT stops, puts his hands on his hips.
JL, to Sheriff: you know Murdoch Lancer, owns a spread about a hundred miles south of here?
The Sheriff repeats the name, with no obvious recognition in his voice.
JL: Well, he’s my old man, and his too, and he’ll be back in a couple days and I think he’s gonna be able to take care of everything. He’ll prove who we are.
LT: You’re gonna believe that, right , Sheriff?? The man stands there and lies to ya!
Sheriff, loudly: Maybe!
LT shakes his head in disgust.
Sheriff: Well, I don’t wanna make any mistakes about this. (to Johnny) All right.
(he gets up out of his chair) Two days. (he stands face to face with JL and points a points a finger at his chest) But if I don’t get some proof in two days, I’m gonna turn him over to them.
JL: All right, all right.
LT, clearly unhappy, exits with Wade.
JL: You mind if I talk to my brother? (he hands the Sheriff his gun)
Sheriff, accepting the gun: Nope.
The Sheriff sits down at his desk and Johnny goes back to the cell.
Johnny hands his gun to the Sheriff and goes back to sit outside Scott’s cell. Scott is seated close to the bars, one arm is through them.
SL: I don’t believe it.
JL: I know. (pause) Now, it could get worse. . . . I’m gonna hafta find Jonas.
Scott looks at him without speaking.
JL: Well, it’s the only way I’m gonna get ya clear.
SL: Julie. The girl.
JL: That her name?
Scott nods.
JL: She used you, huh, to throw them off, them bounty hunters? (we hear him laughing while the camera close up is on Scott’s very serious expression, his face framed by the bars)
JL’s voice, an amused tone: You know, I didn’t do too good either. (camera shifts to Johnny)
JL: You know, I bet Jonas is close by. I mean, maybe she’ll lead me to ‘im.
SL, very intense: That’s a small chance, but maybe you can find her, bring her back here, make her tell the truth.
JL: What’d she look like?
SL: Twenty four, short, dark brown hair. (he raises his eyebrows) Pretty.
Scott glances down, Johnny smiles.
SL continues: But getting her to trust you, it’s not going to be easy. Before she decided to use me, it was like talking to a starched collar. . . So you don’t have much time and you better get going.
JL: You take care of yourself. (long pause, then he grins) I won’t see ya at the dance tonight, I guess.
Scott laughs and smiles as Johnny gets up and leaves.
SCENE 5
Johnny is seen exiting the building. The bounty hunters are watching him as he walks by, he smiles at them.
LT: I don’t like the cut of that boy.
Thatcher is sitting on the edge of the board walk, while Wade Hackett is standing and leaning against a support post.
WH: Well, I don’t like hangin’ around here for two days.
LT: Well, I’m workin’ on that too.
He removes his hat and lies back on the boardwalk, his hands behind his head.
SCENE 6
Inside the stable, the stableman is hammering a horse shoe. Johnny walks in.
JL: Hello.
Stableman starts working a bellows: Somethin’ I can do fer ya?
JL: Well, I dunno, maybe. I’m lookin’ for a girl.
Stableman: No girl’s been in here today.
JL: You rent rigs, dontcha?
Stableman: That’s what the sign says.
JL: You got one I can use?
Stableman, looks around: You see on, you can rent it.
JL: Hmm, all out, huh?
He walks over closer to the liveryman.
Stableman: Only got one.
JL: Be back later today?
Stableman: No.
JL: How ‘bout tomorrow?
Stableman: No.
JL: She didn’t tell ya when she’d be back?
Stableman: No she didn’t—
He stops, realizing right off that he’s given himself away.
Stableman, faces Johnny: Look, Mister, I don’t want no trouble—
JL: You gonna be in a lot of trouble now if you don’t stop playing dumb.
Stableman sighs.
JL: Where’d she go?
Stableman: South road.
JL: How long ago?
Stableman, reluctantly: “Bout thirty minutes.
Johnny slaps him on the arm and leaves. The liveryman immediately goes back to vigorously hammering that horseshoe.
In the next shot, we see Johnny riding fast out of town on his palomino horse, hatless as he has been through out this episode.
The two bounty hunters see him leaving.
WH: Think he’s goin’ for help?
LT: Could be. (pause) Just gonna make our job that much easier.
Thatcher sits down, then continues speaking.
LT: Because by the time he gets back, Jonas ain’t gonna need any help. Because Mr. Jonas—(he laughs)—is gonna be a dead man.
Ominous music and commercial break.
SCENE 7
Johnny is riding after Julie, who is still driving the buggy. He loses sight of her, stops and looks around, then he reacts---following his pov, we see she has stopped and has a gun pointed at him.
JB: Who are you? What do you want?
JL: Oh, nothin’, Lady. (he rides closer) Just ridin’ along admirin’ the beautiful countryside.
JB: Get off the horse.
Johnny turns his back on her to dismount (nice butt shot!) and while he’s not looking, Julie reaches for the buggy whip, then swats his horse on the rump. Barranca whinnies and takes off.
Johnny stands with his hands on his hips.
JL: Now, what’d you do that for?
JB: Cause I don’t like being followed.
She turns around in her seat to face forward and seems ready to drive away.
JL: Hey, what’re you gonna do, just leave me here?
JB, starts horse and does not look back: Yes.
JL: It’s gonna take me a day ta find that horse!
JB: driving away: Give you time to admire the scenery.
Johnny starts to walk after her, then breaks into a run as she disappears from view. He holds his gun to the side of his leg with one hand. We are watching him from behind.
JL: Hey, wait up, Lady!
Our perspective shifts, so we see him from in front. Johnny reaches for his right thigh, then drops to the ground in a sitting position. He whistles loudly.
Julie turns. Johnny is gesturing, pointing at his upraised right leg, indicating that he’s been hurt. Julie stops, and is considering. . .
JL yells: I’m hurt!
Julie gets out of the rig. She removes her shawl, picks up a canteen. She starts towards him, holding the canteen in one hand and the pistol in the other.
JB: I just came back to give you this—(she drops the canteen to the ground beside him)
Johnny is rubbing his “injured” leg.
JL: I don’t need water, I need ma horse.
JB: You hurt your leg bad?
JL: My knee--- (he rises, painfully) It’s killin’ me. Look, do me a favor, now, will ya? There’s a veterinarian about three miles up the road. . . . You give me a lift that far?
JB: I can’t.
She turns away.
JL: Hey, Lady!
She turns back.
JL: It’s only three miles. . .is it outta your way?
JB: No, it’s not out of my way.
JL: C’mon then.
Julie shakes her head “no”, but then relents.
JB: Okay, you can come with me, but just three miles.
Johnny picks up the canteen and limps after her to the rig.
SCENE 8
It’s now very dark outside, and we see the rig, enter a fenced in yard. Julie is driving and Johnny is seated beside her. She stops the horse.
JB: Is this the place?
JL: No, this is a deserted way station.
JB: Well, it doesn’t matter, because this is where you get out.
JL: Ma’am, I hate to tell you this, but from the looks of your horse, this is as far as he’s goin’. You’re gonna hafta rest the night here.
Johnny gets down out of the rig.
JB: I can’t, I’ve gotta keep going.
JL: Ma’am, you push that horse any further and he’s gonna be dead.
Julie studies him.
JB: From the, ah, looks of your leg, it seems to have recovered pretty quickly.
Johnny is standing near the horse’s head.
JL, glances down at the ground: Well, just chalk it up to good company.
Close up of Johnny’s hand doing something with the bit in the horse’s mouth.
JL: Well, the knee feels pretty good now. (he smiles)
JB: Good bye, Mr. Madrid.
She slaps the reins on the horse’s back and the animal rears up. She keeps trying to get the animal to go forward. Johnny reaches for the horse, saying “whoa”.
JB: I don’t understand, he was fine just a minute ago!
JL, to horse: Whoa.
Then to Julie: He’s tired ma’am, I’m tellin’ ya, you push him any further and you’re gonna end up walkin’.
She just sits there, without speaking.
JL: You wanna risk it, that’s fine with me, go right ahead.
She slumps in her seat.
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