Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Blackthorne Episode 122



image from pinterest.com

 Blackthorne

Cinemagenic 122


Hoosegow


“These here jail baits is just set on the trigger

of the hoosegow.” --John Steinbeck 

Of Mice and Men.


1(sound cue) banjo and harmonica.

2(two-shot) Buck stood with his thumbs in his belt,

staring at the dimly-lit bulletin board of wanted

posters adjacent to the front door. Blackthorne

had a dozen outside lanterns; one hung in front of

the jail. Hop unlocked the big door and motioned

for Buck to step inside. 

3(three-shot) Wallace stomped onto the boardwalk

just as Hop followed Buck through the dark doorway.

Wallace: The shit’s in the fire now.

4(sound cue) door slamming & shuffling boots.

5( cut to interior of jail--low light) The men stood as

silhouettes in the semi-dark for a few silent moments.

6(medium close-up) The sheriff struck a stick match

and the interior lit up.

7(cut to wide-shot) The jailhouse was clean and well

kept. The back of the front door was a plate of steel,

and it was hung with massive hinges. It had taken

the blacksmith two weeks to forge and fit. A steel

plank perched in a poker stand alongside; an extra

precaution to seal the door.

     To the right of the entrance was one barred window,

fitted with metal shutters that swung down over it. Three

tall arches were the main support of the building, dividing

the jail into three areas--the office and reception area, the

cooking and living area, complete with two Army cots, and

the cell block. There were three cells, one large one in the

center, and two smaller ones flanking it; all double-locked

     Behind Hop’s desk there was a gun rack, sporting a

Creedmoor, a Spencer, four Winchesters, and a couple

of scatter guns. The walls were brick, surrounding them

with square red muscles.

8(two-shot) Hop opened the deep side drawer in his hand

carved desk and plunked Buck’s weapons into it.

9(sound cue) metal thunk over blues guitar chords

Hop: Better give me that damn vest too.

Buck shrugged and began taking off his ammo vest,

never taking his eyes off the Sheriff. He handed the

vest to Hop.

Buck: You still haven’t told me what you found out at

my ranch.

10(medium wide-shot) The deputy entered the room,

carrying Buck’s Sharps. He stopped next to Wallace.

Billy: Six dead, two wounded.

Hop holstered his handgun and held his arm out for

the buffalo rifle. The heavy breech-loader looked large

in his short muscular arms. He held the rifle up to his

shoulder, and sighted at a calendar on the wall of a

herd of buffalo blocking a train. 

Buck: Well?

Wallace nodded, also wanting to hear.

Hop: Uh-huh, what do I know? I know that in six

hours, Mr. Buck, you have participated in two

gunfights, and fourteen men have been killed.

Buck: All in self-defense.

Hop: I know that right now, after disregarding my

advice, Bronson could pop open this jail like a man

with a Bowie knife opening a can of peaches.

Wallace: Now just a damned minute, there was 

provocation and murder.

Hop, calmly and coldly: Henry, there was a time when

your opinion had worth. That time lit out hell-bent a

couple of hours ago.

Wallace: Are you carrying Bronson’s water?

Hop stared at the storekeeper, not answering him.

The deputy leaned against the wall, the brim of his

hat covering his eyes. A yellow bandana was wrapped

around the knife wound, stippled in blood.

Buck, his voice low and tired: The man asked a

fair question. 

Hop: Billy, you escort Mr. Wallace over to the Doc’s.

I imagine Doc and Salina could use some help. They

got a full house. While you’re there, get your arm

tended to.

Billy opened the creaky front door. Wallace left the

room without a word, angry and frustrated.

Hop: When you finish at the Doc’s, make some rounds,

and then get back here. We’re staying at the jail tonight.

11(sound cue) piano and coronet.



Glenn Buttkus


Posted over at d'Verse Poet's Pub OLN

12 comments:

scotthastiepoet said...

To be honest, still don't quite know how you achieve this Glenn? I guess you are constantly running videos in your head, all the while scurrying around documenting as you go - like some demon journalist! And there's some art in that...
And the other thing I've often wondered is this some glorious, vast, open-ended adventure? Or do you have some approx narrative course to a conclusion already planned out in your head that you are driving towards?

Regards as ever

Scott

Glenn Buttkus said...

I am a movie buff and ex-actor, and no stranger to screen plays, but my goal was to go way beyond "a fight ensues" into a virtual movie in your head as you read. My source material is an unpublished novel I wrote in 1967; which serves as outline and story board for me.

robkistner said...

It was cool seeing and hearing you Glenn. Your reading of this was very engaging, brought it alive! After Bjorn hung up I first lost the video then I lost the audio trying to get the video back. Sorry.

brudberg said...

This is so packed with action... and yes this is how movies play in your head. I really look forward to each new installment.

Sanaa Rizvi said...

Consider your goal achieved, Glenn! This is absolutely fantastic! The entire episode was reeling in my mind as you read on the Live event. 💝

Merril D. Smith said...

It was fun to hear your read this, Glenn!

Ken Gierke said...

I enjoyed your reading of this, Glen. Besides adding character, your voice brought it to life.

JadeLi said...

I don't want to think one of the "trustables" like Hop or Wallace is a rat, but anything is possible. I love that nice touch of pointing the buffalo gun at the calendar. Sounds like the jail is a pretty tough fortress. Who is going to be sent out to get State authorities, marshalls, or a judge to see this mess through to its rightful conclusion. Bronson and his "gang" need to be held accountable!

Also, it was really nice seeing you today at the live reading and hearing your read aloud from your saga!

Ingrid said...

A rollercoaster ride of a movie scene: I really enjoyed hearing you read this. Thanks for sharing, Glenn.

Kim M. Russell said...

As always, I enjoyed this episode, Glenn, but all the more so for hearing it in your voice, which is perfect for the genre.

Mish said...

You left nothing out with...
"He held the rifle up to his shoulder, and sighted at a calendar on the wall of a herd of buffalo blocking a train." A random detail that just rounded out the visual scene in my head. Fantastic! I really enjoyed your reading of this with your expressive voice.

Truedessa said...

Oh my, I certainly missed out on this one! sigh