Blackthorne--Scene 73

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Blackthorne

Cinemagenic Seventy-Three

Heart Tug

“Do no harm, open your heart--but take no shit”.

--Anonymous.

1(sound cue) banjo & harmonica.

2(medium close-up) Ryker searched for Bronson’s 

face, but 

3(cut to two-shot) Cash had already moved up 

alongside Johnny: This horse is stone mean, breed

--even you can see that, right? It would not hurt, now

that he’s in my rotunda, to break some of that damn

pride of his.

The Eagle did not respond, keeping his intense gaze

on Ryker.

Cash: I want him broke in for Paulie, and you know 

he’s not much of a horseman--this stallion has a 

wagon load of too much spirit. 

Johnny: But this is not the way.

4(medium close-up) Yes, he is a medicine horse. He

is strong, and he has great pride. But he was Nez

Pierce broke, and has been ridden in battle. I tell you

he would rather die, or he will kill one of you before

you break him with a whip or spurs.

5(close-up) Ryker: You damned flea-bitten squaw--

this horse needs to learn some respect. This ain’t

the first horse I ever broke--you know that. If you

don’t start out with him my way, he’ll be riding you

within a week.

6(sound cue) piano & Indian seed rattle.

7(two-shot) Johnny: I will do this--let me ride him:

more a statement than an inquiry.

Cash took a long look at the stallion. What will it 

cost me for your services?

Johnny: About an hour.

8(medium wide shot) Cash: What do you think about 

all this, Paulie? 

Buck turned to gaze at the youngest brother. When 

Paul recognized him, he froze for a second as a ripple

of fear passed over his face--but then realizing he was 

safe, he smiled a pitiful crooked smile, and spoke in a

small voice: It don’t matter a damn to me who ends up

riding this fucking horse.

9(close-up) Chatawa bobbing his head, flashing

his angry eyes.

10(medium two shot) Graff watched the Eagle--

obviously still angry about his past humiliations,

his face reddening, he spat out: Mr. Bronson, if

this lice-assed halfbreed, says he’ll do it for

nothing--just let him. No sense in getting one of 

our own crew busted up. Probably that damn  

jughead is going to throw him over the fence, 

and we’ll all get a good laugh out of it.

11(close-up) Cash:  Alright, Johnny --we’ll try it

your way. Ryker, get your sad ass out of the corral.

12(sound cue) piano & banjo.

13(medium wide shot) Grumbling all the way, 

Ryker dropped the blanket back over the sawhorse, 

and tossed the whip into the dust, before crawling

up onto the rails.

14(sound cue) six-string blues slide.

15(two-shot)  The Eagle asked as he dismounted

the gate, staring at the waiting stallion: Well, my 

Buck, what do you say?

Buck: Sure, let’s get it done--as he opened the gate

and stepped into the corral.

16(sound cue) the old leather hinges on the gate, 

and crowd murmuring over guitar chord.

17(cut to overhead crane shot) the whole corral,

as Johnny moves toward the dappled stud, and

rail riders were jockeying for better sight lines.

18(sound cue) saxophone & juice harp.

19(two shot) Johnny: Hey, my brave Chat-a-wa.

The stallion’s ears perked up, and he shook his 

head yes--These people have been treating you

like an Army mule, haven’t they? Well, relax son,

for we’re here now, me and the buffalo. Do you

remember the buffalo? Chatawa nodded. So, are

you ready for a treat?

20(medium wide shot) Johnny dipped into a partial

bag of oats by the fence and strolled right up to the

stallion. Buck was three paces behind. The stud

flattened its ears and backed up.

21(sound cue) Indian branch flute.  

Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub OLN