Blackthorne Episode 113

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Blackthorne

Cinemagenic 113

Red Eyes

“He was a silent fury who no torment

could tame.”--Jack London.

1(sound cue) guitar and harmonica.

2(tight three-shot) Mateo moved his lips, but

there was only a gurgling from the saliva

bubbles that filled his mouth. The charro who

held his head said: It was Ramos.

3(close-up) Buck’s eyes.

4(flashback) Buck remembered the dark limping

figure in the street.

5(four shot) A large Indian, who stood beside 

Wallace, behind Buck, volunteered: All this 

because Mateo was a good friend of Johnny’s.

A lean vaquero walked past Buck and yelled:

Who will help me carry Mateo next door to the

Doc’s. We need to do it right now.

6(sound cue) branch flute.

Four men stepped up and helped the vaquero,

struggling with Mateo’s short heavy body through the

battered swinging doors. Many of the men had

helped carry Johnny up those stairs hours

earlier, now had an encore performance.

7(sound cue) Heavy boots and loud voices.

8(wide overhead crane shot) Buck and Wallace

moved over to the small plank-topped bar. 

Wallace walked around behind it and poured

smoky white tequila in a pair of smudged red

shot glasses. 

9(cut to medium two-shot) The older overweight 

whore sat in a corner, in the shadows. The younger 

thinner prostitute had her pretty head in the wide lap 

of the other.

Buck could hear them weeping sad soft tears. He and

Wallace gulped down their strong drinks.
10(expand the shot) The big Indian, who had spoken

before, approached them. He had small dark eyes and

heavy brows. He smelled of bear grease in his hair. He

wore a large knife, and an ancient Navy Colt in a scuffed

cavalry holster. He asked: Are you the Buck?

Buck nodded yes.

It was Ramos, who works for Bronson, and a

black man I do not know.

Buck: Are you sure?

Indian: Damn rights, it was Ramos with the voice

that is broken and the bad leg. I heard you know

him.

Buck: Uh-huh, we met.

Indian: The other was a skinny black man, wearing

a Buffalo Soldier cap, with a big scar on one cheek.

He did the talking, but it was Ramos who shot

Mateo twice.

Wallace: We heard three shots.

Indian: The black man shot once into the ceiling to

get our attention, and then covered us as they left.

Buck: But why...why did they shoot Mateo?

Indian: Mateo had been drinking. He was very sad

and red-eyed with anger about the Eagle. He was

saying that it was Bronson who was responsible,

and that this time, if Johnny dies, Bronson would pay 

for it. Many men drank with him, and agreed with him.

Then Ramos showed. I guess his men watch the

town tonight. The buffalo soldier called Mateo a liar.

Mateo yelled that no man called him a liar, then

Ramos shot him.

Buck: Did Mateo have a gun.

Indian: Yes, a derringer in his buckle.

Buck: Did he try to use it?

Indian: No. It happened too fast.

Buck: This is the way you saw it?

Indian: As did every one in the room.

Many sombreros nodded.

Wallace: Will you tell the sheriff what you witnessed?

Indian: Yes, though I do not care for him.

Wallace: Will others back you up?

Indian: The brave ones will.

Wallace poured the Indian a drink. Buck stood staring

at the door. The women wept.

Wallace: You’re still waiting, ain’t you?

Buck: No, heading for the street.

11(sound cue) Indian seed rattle.

Glenn Buttkus

posted over at d'Verse Poets Pub OLN