Blackthorne--Scene 71

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Blackthorne

Cinemagenic Seventy-One

Hostage

“When you have a child, the world has a 

hostage.”--Ernest Hemingway.

1(sound cue) harmonica & accordion. 

2(two-shot) Salina, over Wallace’s shoulder:

I am my father’s daughter.

Wallace, smiling : It’s just that you can’t close

your eyes, click your heels, and Thor disappears.

His kind of mean hangs in like colic. I think you 

should give some thought as to how to straighten

things out.

3(close-up) Salina : OK, Pop. I figured I would cross

that little bridge when I get to it.

4(medium close-up) Wallace : Damn, girl, you should

be fixing to find a way to let him down easy. He is not

used to being told No.

5(voice over) Salina: Well, there’s a first time for 

everything--followed by a chuckle.

6(sound cue) piano & harmonica.

7(cut to medium wide shot/exterior) An old buckboard

reined up out front. Johnny Eagle was driving it. A 

young black mustang jerked against his harness and 

the tall gray mule alongside him. Rod Buck pulled up

and stepped down off his huge roan. Wallace walked 

out on the porch, squinting into the east as golden rays

began to edge up over the sign on the CHINA DOLL.

Wallace wiped his liver-spotted calloused hands on his

clean apron.

8(three-shot) Wallace: Nice to see you. Did you run out

of chuck?

Buck: Among other things.

Wallace: Hey, John--then turned on his heel as the

Eagle returned his greeting with a silent nod.

Buck stepped up onto the porch: Do you want to 

come in, old brother?

Johnny: Not today, boss. I think I will wander down to

the cantina and shoot the buzzard shit with Mateo.

Buck: I’ll join you there later.

The Eagle jumped down from the wagon; Buck 

watched him making his way along the dusty street, 

watched how straight he carried himself, how his 

shoulder and arm muscles rippled as he walked.

9(sound cue) guitar & coronet.

10(two-shot) Wallace was in the doorway : So

what do you need on this fine morning?

Buck: I’ll need some paint for one--stepping into

the store behind Wallace--What have you got?

10(medium wide shot) Salina was still at the fabric

table. She straightened up and stared at Buck, not

pretending to work.

11(voice over) Wallace: What quantity & color?

12(close up) Buck: Enough to paint a rainbow on

your crapper.

13(two-shot) Salina, over Buck’s shoulder: What a 

colorful way of speaking. Good morning, Mr. Buck.

Buck: Good morning, Miss Salina.

Salina: Does Johnny Eagle work for you now? 

Buck: That’s what he tells me.

Wallace (as voice over) Blue, black, red, white and

green--a fine selection.

Salina: Fixing up the old place?

Buck: We stay in the bunkhouse for now. The house

needs a ton of work. After I get things presentable,

you might could come out for a visit.

Salina, smiling warmly: Yes, I might could.

14(sound cue) violin & flute.

15(two-shot) She returned to her fabric bolts. He 

spent an awkward moment considering what to say 

next when Wallace inquired:  What colors?

16(sound cue) heavy boot steps just before the front 

door swung open, awakening the bee hive of bells.

The Eagle rushed in, a bit out of breath: Boss, I think

you need to come with me right now.

17(three-shot) Buck: Hey, fierce one. I haven’t 

ordered anything yet--nor have I had time to ask

Miss Salina for a date.

18(medium close-up) Another smile from the lady.

19(two-shot) Buck: Just tell Mateo to wait a few 

minutes.

Johnny: It’s Chatawa.

Buck turned and the two men tramped out of the 

store. Wallace shrugged his shoulders & followed

them to the doorsill. A large crowd had gathered

down at the auction corrals.

Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub OLN