Blackthorne--Sc76

painting by Travis Knight

Blackthorne

Cinemagenic Seventy-Six

Bravo

“I didn’t want to come up with some generic 

Johnny Bravo type name. I’m not that cool.”

--Colin Hanks

1(overhead wide drone shot) the town crusts and

dusty range riders peeled off the corral rails, with

Johnny walking toward them.

2(medium close ups/jump cut) the crowd:

“Great Ride !”  “Fucking wonderful !”  “Knocked

my damn boots off !”  “That’s showing him !”

“You busted him good !”

3(two-shot) the Eagle walked up to Cash Bronson.

Cash held out his hand, as big as Johnny’s, and

the Indian shook it firmly.

4(over Johnny’s shoulder) Cash: Jesus, let me pay

you! That’s the best damned ride I’ve seen in years.

He must have shaken your guts out.”

5(over Bronson’s shoulder) Johnny smiled a little:

“No thank-you, Mr. Bronson. I don’t work for you

any more. I work out at Antlered Buck.”

6(sound cue) piano chord.

7(close-up) Bronson, his good cheer fading.

8(medium close-up) Johnny: “Tell you what, El Hefe,

if you really want to pay me, please keep your 

money, but make sure that your men treat this

horse with respect. Ryker can saddle break him

now, but have him use a gentle hand.”

9(two-shot) over Johnny’s shoulder--Bronson:

“Sounds fair to me.” 

10(medium wide shot) Bronson turning to Ryker, who

was picking up some gear, and trying not to

participate. Bronson: “Do you understand, Ryker?

We want this bronco jughead gentled enough that

Pauly can ride him”.

11(close-up) Ryker, his face turning red: “Yes, sir.”

12(medium close up) Buck: “Do you really need this

horse?”, asking quietly.

13(three-shot) Bronson: “Ah, Mister Buck,” with a

smug smile starting to work at the corners of his

mouth,”Here you are, the big bad stranger, returned

at last. You certainly got my attention.”

Buck: “Did I?”

Bronson: “This is kind of a small town, Not

much goes on here that I don’t hear about.”

Buck: “I’m sure that’s true.”

Bronson: “Like I heard this morning that you

had a little trouble over at my place the other

day. Raised quite a ruckus.”

14(two-shot) Buck, over Bronson’s shoulder:

“I wouldn’t call that trouble.”

15(sound cue) banjo & harmonica.

16(close-up) Bronson: “Christ--you scared the 

hell out of half my girls, shot one of my casino

guards, and tossed my little brother out of a

second story window...and you don’t call that

trouble? Sure, there were plenty of

witnesses, but we had to cancel your visit with

the welcome wagon!”

17(close-up) Buck: “No one got killed.”

18(two-shot) Bronson: “Yes, that’s true--not in my

place anyways.”

Buck: “What are you saying?”

Bronson: “I’m saying that for a fellow whose only

been in town a short while, and who claims he 

wants to settle down and live here, you certainly

are a hellraiser.”

19(close up) Paul Bronson, his expression anxious,

angry, but plagued with a coward’s anxiety.

20(close up) Thor Bronson, his face stone hard, 

his eyes still blazing, his mouth a tight smear.

21(sound cue) branch flute.

21(close up) Johnny Eagle, exhausted but pleased

with himself.

22(two-shot) Buck, over Bronson’s shoulder: “I’d

say that most of that ruckus was just a misunder-

standing. I’m still trying to get my bearings. I’ve

been gone quite a spell--and I just wasn’t used

to the way you run things.”

23(close up) Bronson: “So, would you say that

now you are getting used to it?”

24(close-up) Buck, after a small pause: “ Yeah,

I’m starting to catch on.

25(two-shot) Bronson, with a hard smile: “Hell,

I almost like you. Just come to me if you have

any questions.”

26(close-up) Buck: “What about the horse?”

Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub