Blackthorne--Episode 89

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Blackthorne

Cinemagenic Eighty-Nine

Bare Knuckles

“You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.”

--Indira Gandhi.

1(sound cue) grunts, growls and groans over a kettle

drum and a guitar.

2(overhead crane shot) as both fists found their mark.

3(cut to steadicam operators) The fight continues,
and it is filmed in real choreographed moments; no

jump cuts, or hand-held jerkiness.

          Buck let loose of the leg, and Thor lifted off the

floor, almost swallowing his tongue from the waves of

loin pain, and landed flat on his butt, sitting up; his 

face drained of color. Buck swung into the fog in front 

of him, cuffing the hardcase with an open hand, like a

sow bear does with her cub, catching Thor on the side 

of his head, knocking him to his back on the floor.

          Buck roared like a wounded badger, swinging

his arms wildly, thrashing and swimming through the

brain mist, working himself to his feet. His teeth were

clenched, his mouth bloody, and he shook his shaggy

head like a bison bull. There was a quiet moment as

Thor, to his credit, struggled to get up. His eyes were

red peach pits in his battered face. Buck waited on him.

Paul Bronson: That’s it, Thor. He can’t whip you! Now,

kick the squawman’s ass!

           Buck’s vision cleared, and he moved in while

Thor was still on his knees, lashing out with his boot

this time, smashing the gunfighter in the middle of his

back, pitching him forward onto his face.. Buck waited.

Thor lay there, growling like a wolverine in a trap,

blowing blood bubbles. He struggled to his knees again,

gasping for breath. Buck didn’t move. With a rasping

yelp, Thor pushed himself to his feet. He stood there

tottering back and forth like a drunk. One eye was 

swelled shut and blood ran from his left ear.

Buck: Give up--you’ve proved your point .

             Thor spit up red foam as he charged Buck

with his head down. Buck sidestepped and hit the

gunslinger on the top of the head, driving Thor to

the floor once more. This time, Thor lie as still as

a stone.

Paul suddenly pleaded: Stay down, brother. Stay

down--fuck him, he’s just too big for you!

 4(three-shot) Thor painfully got to his feet. Joe Hop 

and Paul Bronson helped him up.

5(sound cue) low murmur from crowd over a piano.

 Joe Hop: It’s enough. You did better than most of us

thought. I lost money on you.

Paul Bronson: It was a good fight! Everyone’s calling  

it a draw.

6(close-up) Thor: That’s horseshit!

7(medium wide shot) Everyone can see that you beat 

me this time, but the next time that we lock horns, Mr.

Buck, you better be wearing those big guns of yours--

and then we’ll play this goddamn game again; my way.

Buck nodded, closing his eyes for a moment.

8(sound cue) the music started up again.

9(overhead crane shot) the circle was broken. Folks 

began to dance again; for them the incident was over.

The red-headed caller began clapping his big hands,

and keeping time with one prancing foot.

10(medium wide shot) Buck walked without help.

Johnny carried his shirt. The deputy and Paul helped

Thor into a chair. Paul began dabbing at Thor’s cuts

with a whiskey-soaked handkerchief. The sheriff

followed Buck over to the spiked punch table.

Salina and Henry were standing there.

11(medium close up) Joe Hop: I got six months.

12(two-shot) Buck, pulling his shirt back on: What

do you mean, Sheriff?

Joe Hop: In six months, my term as Sheriff is up.

They don’t hold elections here. The town council

picks a man.

Wallace: I’m on the town council.

Sheriff: You certainly are.

Wallace: Damn it, man--it was Bronson’s bunch that

got you appointed. The rest of us figured you’d just

be carrying his water.

Sheriff: Somehow, I don’t think Mr. Bronson has such

a high opinion of me these days. He flashed a small

smile, shook his head, and melted back into the

raucous crowd or revelers.

Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub