Blackthorne Episode 122

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 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