Blackthorne--Scene 84

painting by Morgan Weistling

Blackthorne

Cinemagenic Eighty-Four

No Regrets

“The regret of my life is that I have not said

‘I love you’ often enough.”--Yoko Ono

1(sound cue) piano and violin.

2(medium wide shot) Salina sitting, Buck standing.

3(two shot) over Buck’s shoulder.

Salina: I don’t know if I should apologize, or slap

your face.

Buck: You might try both,and we’ll carry on

from there.

4(widen two-shot) Salina stood up; he towered over 

her. She nervously put her hands on her hips.

5(medium close up) Salina, taking a deep breath:

I told half the town that you were taking me to the 

dance. When you didn’t show up, I felt foolish. I

thought maybe I had shocked you with my asking

you to go. Some men can’t deal with a strong--

minded woman.

6(close-up) Buck, smiling: Well, I assure you, I am

not one of those men.

7(two shot) Both in profile. Salina: Alright, easy to

say I think--we’ll have to see how this rolls out.

8(sound cue) violins and harmonica.

9(close up) Buck, quietly holding her eyes, saying

nothing, saying everything.

10(two shot) Salina turns her back to him. Buck

stood behind her. She wiped away a small tear,

then whirled around to face him: I have come to

realize that I was selfish. I love to dance, and I

didn’t want to miss it--but I failed to think it

through...how you really felt about it.

Buck: I feel fine about it. I’m here now, and I’m 

raring to prance a bit.

Salina: Uh-huh--what about Thor Bronson?

Buck: What about him?

11(medium close up) Salina: Dad took me to task

for this, telling me that it looked like I was playing

you both off each other, giving the stallions the

scent, working my feminine wiles.

12(two-shot) Buck: Is your father right?

Salina: Hell of a question.

Buck: Hell of a situation.

Salina: A little no, some yes and some

shame. It‘s complicated. Anyway, Dad

took the heifer by the horns, and arranged

things so that everyone has to check their

weapons at the door. Joe Hop will be in

attendance too. 

13(sound cue) banjo and guitar.

14(extended two-shot) Buck: Damn,

you smell good.

Salina, flushing a bit: So do you.

Buck, chuckling: A little something that

Johnny whipped up. He says it’s guaranteed 

to make the ladies toss their skirts over their

heads. 

Salina: Oh...you wish.

They both laughed, then stood in an awkward 

moment of silence; finally

Salina: Listen big guy, if this situation seems too

dicy to you, you don’t have to take me just 

because you promised to; just take me inside.

I’ll find plenty of dance partners.

Buck: I’ll bet you would. He held her face in his

hands, and softly kissed her forehead. She

searched his face, her jade eyes aglow. He 

pulled her to him and kissed her sweetly. She

kissed back. He hugged her, lifting her off her

feet: You are with me, little gal, and I don’t care

who knows it, or what they might try to do

about it. 

Salina, smiling with all her teeth: You are quite

the fella, Mr. Buck. I suppose now we might as

well trot over to the Grange and make every-

body’s day--whatta ya say?

15(sound cue) harmonica and accordion.

Buck: You are quite the lady, Miss Wallace.

Yup, let’s get along. My toes are tapping

already.

16(cut to overhead drone shot) Salina held

onto Buck’s muscular arm as they walked along,

moving in and out of the shadows. We can hear

the buzz of their conversation, and the lilt of their

shared laughter.

Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub OL