Blackthorne--Scene 51

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Blackthorne

Cinemagenic Fifty-One

Capture

“Breathe next to me--and I will capture a piece

of your soul along with mine.”--Marikit Camba.

1(sound cue) more snare drum over horses nickering.

2(overhead crane shot) The stallion raced around the corral trap

as the three mares made a fuss & pulled against their ropes. The

Appaloosa bucked, jumped, kicked out his hind legs & then raised

up on them, wild-eyed punching at the dusty air.

3(medium wide shot) Buck & Johnny Eagle standing quietly behind

the pole gate.

4(tighter wide shot) the stallion calmed down finally, & stood regally

alongside his pinto bride.

5(close-up) the Appaloosa’s eyes calming, but his nostrils still

flaring, as the Indian’s scent seemed to defuse his anxiety.

6(sound cue) piano & harmonica.

7(medium close-up) Johnny’s face, aglow with excitement.

--God’s heuvos, that is one damn fine horse!

8(two-shot) angle on Buck--Hey, brother, it worked. Chatawa is ours.

9(two-shot) the stallion whickered, bobbing his head, the muscles bulging

in his leopard neck. The pinto mare only had eyes for him, but she did

glance sideways at the men.

10(tight two-shot) angle on the Eagle, over Buck’s shoulder:

--No, he is all yours, jumping right out of the clouds for you, folding

back his wings, mist still steaming off his spotted rump. You know

he has great medicine & a warrior’s heart, & one day soon he will

be pleased to carry your big bones. It is my honor to help break him.

11(sound cue) slide guitar blues lick over castanets.

12(medium two-shot) angle on Buck--Well, he’s not mine yet; only

the arroyo wind has been his rider. I will have to earn my claim on him.

13(tighter two-shot) angle on Johnny--With his spirited tonatas at stud,

you will build the finest rancho in the territory. He will sire magnificent

colts. Bronson will shit himself with raw envy.

14(medium wide-shot) Johnny slipped under the bottom pole & stood up,

his yellow hair lariat slack in his right hand.

15(tight two-shot) angle on Johnny’s face--You see his split ear? You are

a lucky hombre, boss--he’s been Nez Pierce trained. Appaloosas like him

have already been tamed & ridden, but never broken. This one has let

loose of his fear. He is just waiting to meet his new Master.

16(sound cue) harmonica, clarinet, & Indian branch flute.

17(close-up) Buck’s huge smile.

18(medium wide-shot) the stallion stepped out in front of his

staked mares, stamping his right front hoof--but there was no

sign of anger in him.

19(overhead crane shot) the three mares strained to bunch up 

as Chatawa & the Eagle squared off.

20(cut to medium two-shot) as Johnny began to walk slowly

toward the stallion--Sure, I know, hellfire stud, these are your

women. We will not hurt them. They will stay with you as your

companions. We will not hurt you either. No, no--we will give

you love. Do you remember love, Chatawa?

The stallion held the Indian’s scent in his nostrils, & upon hearing

his Indian name, he began to quiet down again.

21( medium close-up) angle on the Eagle over the stud’s shoulder:

--Yes, I am talking to you, brave boy with the ass like thunderclouds,

do you remember love. gentle hands, the smell of bison?

22(sound cue) coronet over pounding buffalo hooves.

23(medium two-shot) Johnny’s voice as narration--There is a buffalo

right there; you & he will be grande partners. You two prairie giants

have seen plenty of those big humps crashing to earth, huh?

24(angle on the Eagle) continuing to move slowly toward the stallion,

his rope now looped--Chatawa, do you see this rope?

25(close-up) he tossed the loop onto the ground near the stud’s hooves.

The great horse flinched, but stood his ground.

--That’s right, just an old rope, not a snake, harmless. It smells of horses,

mesquite, buffalo crap, sweat, & me. Johnny gathered up the rope, &

took a step closer.

26(sound cue) Indian seed rattle & kettle drum.

27(two-shot) in slow motion; the dappled stud lunged at him, but Johnny

was ready, quickly side-stepping & flicking the wide lariat loop over 

Chatawa’s head, then swing-wrapping it around a breaking stake, all in

a cicada click. The horse stopped, & stood tall.

28(medium close up) Johnny: You see, you are not hurt.

The Indian bent down & ripped out a handful of sweet bunch grass, &

tossed in near the stallion. Chatawa immediately began to munch the

treat. Johnny unwrapped the yellow rope & dropped it in the red dust.

29(medium two-shot) Johnny leaning against the inside of the poles,

& Buck with his ams folded over the top one.

--It grows late, boss. Let’s unstake his ladies & let them all calm down

over night. We will continue in the morning. I tell you, he has such

great spirit; I’ve never seen greater.

--Buck: And he knows love. That will be our key with him-his heart.

Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub OLN