Blackthorne Episode 110

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Blackthorne

Cinemagenic 110

The Office

“I had told my doctor that I had broken my leg in

two places. He told me to quit going to those places.”

--Henny Youngman.

1(medium two shot) Buck and Salina. Illumination

from lantern swinging on the driver’s side, flickered

across their faces. 

2(sound cue) piano and harmonica.

Salina: I’m so sorry.

Buck: This had nothing to do with you.

Salina: I know, but there is the Thor factor.

Buck: Yeah, there is that, but the bigger picture

deals with the Bronson factor.

Salina: I’m sad that this happened to you.

You were just getting on your feet.

Buck was lost in thought.

Salina: But hear me out--I don’t think it was 

Cash that was responsible for this.

Buck: a little irritated--Why in hell not?

Salina: Because I know him better than you do,

and he had too much to lose showing his hand

before your meeting tomorrow.”

Buck pondered this.

3(close-up) Salina: I think it was Thor.

4(sound cue) Horse shoes on hard ground 

conversed with creaking leather and rolling

wheels as the minutes crept by. Buck said

nothing and Salina respected that.

5(two-shot) Buck noticed she was weeping.

Buck: What’s this about?

6(close-up) Salina, her voice high pitched:

Because I’m over the moon for you, and silly me,

I just want you to stick around.

7(two-shot) Buck: I’m not planning on going any-

where.

Salina: I’m talking about you living or dying.

Buck: So am I.

8(sound cue) violins.

Salina: I mean this crisis has pushed doubt out of

the picture. I’m betting the whole poke on us.

Buck: I think I understand, but I’ve got a lot of

hash on my platter at the moment.

Salina: I’m here for you. This ain’t puppy love.

You need to know that if you decide to leave here

before it’s all over, I’m going with you--and if you

stay until it’s finished, I’ll be at your elbow.

Buck, his eyes moistening: I don’t deserve you.

Salina: Forget that nonsense, you’re stuck with

me now because I’ve notified the universe that

I love you.

Buck could not speak.

Salina: Did you hear me, Roderick Buck?

Buck: in a small voice, Yes I do.

Salina: Well, it’s rude for a fellow not to respond.

Buck: I’ve only really been in love with one other

woman, and she was killed.

Salina: Christ, I’m not proposing marriage--I just

want you to know where I stand.

Buck: She was a Cheyenne, does that make any

difference to you.

Salina: Hell no. The  men I’ve been with are all

ancient history too.

Buck: You’ve sold me sweet lady--we’ll try it.

She rested her head against his big shoulder, and

he felt a lump gather in his throat. 

9(medium shot) Stationary. The lights of Blackthorne

winked in the distance. The two wagons pulled away

and were swallowed by the gloaming.

10(cut to wide crane shot) When they arrived in town,

there were people in the street. The crowd stood in

three clumps, one in front of the CHINA DOLL, one

in front of the BRONSON HOUSE, and a smaller one

in front of PEDRO’S. The freight wagon came in 

slowly, and folks clustered like bees around the wagon.

Hart reined up in front of the empty barber shop. The

doctor’s office was on top of it. Wallace got down

first and lowered the wagon’s tailgate as Buck and

Salina pulled up in the carriage. Mateo appeared

next to Wallace: Dios, is that the Eagle?

Wallace, his face flushed: Yup, that’s Johnny. A gang

of bastards bushwhacked him and burned down Buck’s

ranch. They all died in the effort.

Buck: How is he?

Doc Sweeney: His bleeding stopped a while ago, but I

have some doctoring to do. Some of you, give us a hand

here. We’ve got to get this man upstairs.

Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at  d'Verse Poets Pub