[crawl]
She was a comely young woman and not without prospects.
Therefore it was heartbreaking to her mother that
she would enter into marriage with William Munny,
a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously viscous
and intemperate disposition. When she died, it was not
at his hands as her mother might have expected but of
smallpox. That was 1878.
EXT NIGHT
Big Whiskey, Wyoming. 1880.
We hear the sound of bed-springs squeaking
DAVEY
Oh! That's Good
DAVEY
Please, just do it.
ALICE
If it's good we'll do it together.
from the next room we hear the sound of shouts and of glass breaking
DELILAH
Please! NO! Please! Please
MIKE
Davey! Come a ruining lad
DELILAH'S ROOM
MIKE
I'll brand you like a damn steer, bitch.
DELILAH
No! Please.
MIKE
Hold that bitch, Davey. Go on, hold her!
Hold her, god Damnit, Davey. Hold her or
I'll cut her tits off
ALICE
Go get Skinny, quick.
(MIKE begins to slash wildly at DELILAH who screams)
ALICE
Skinny!
DAVEY
Jesus, Mike. Don't! Don't, Mike.
Get her away!
MIKE
Do you think it's funny?
ALICE
Skinny! Skinny! Help! Skinny!
(a gun is pointed at MIKE's head. we hear it being cocked by SKINNY as he says)
SKINNY
Get off of her, cowboy,
(in the background we hear the sound of DELILAH sobbing)
EXT NIGHT
rain falls as LITTLE BILL walks quickly toward SKINNY'S
BILL
Wouldn't let you settle it, huh?
CLYDE
Well, you know how Skinny is. He says he's going to shoot them.
I says Skinny, you can't do that! and he says well, let's get Little Bill
in here to settle this thing. I says Little Bill's sleeping and he says
he don't care. In another five minutes he'll shoot those boys.
INT DELILAH'S room
the women are tending to DELILAH's injuries
LITTLE BILL enters
LITTLE BILL
She going to die?
ALICE
She's going to live. She didn't steal nothing.
She didn't even touch his poke. Alls she done, when she
seen he has a teensy little pecker, is give a giggle. That's all.
She didn't know no better. Going to hang them, Little Bill?
LITTLE BILL stares at her and then slowly turns and exits. ALICE and SKINNY follow him.
INT NIGHT SKINNYS
The two cowboys are tied up in the middle of the floor. LITTLE BILL, ALICE, and SKINNY
enter from upstairs.
LITTLE BILL
Clyde, step over to the office and get the bull whip.
ALICE
A whipping? That's all they get after what they done?
LITTLE BILL
A whipping ain't no little thing, Alice
ALICE
For what they done they deserve more.
SKINNY
Alice, shut up! Little Bill, a whipping ain't going to settle this.
This here is a lawful contract between me and Delilah Fitzgerald,
the cut whore. I brought her clear from Boston, I paid her expenses and
all, and I've got a contract here that represents an investment of capital.
LITTLE BILL
Property.
SKINNY
Damaged property. Like if I was to hamstring one of their cow ponies.
LITTLE BILL
So you figure nobody will want to fuck her now, right?
SKINNY
Hell no, least ways they won't pay to do it. Maybe she
can clean up the place or something, but nobody's going to pay
good money for a cut up whore.
LITTLE BILL
You boys off the Bar T. You got your own string ponies?
DAVEY
Yeah, I got four.
(MIKE does not answer. LITTLE BILL kicks him)
MIKE
Six.
LITTLE BILL
I Guess you'd just as soon not have a trial. No fuss, huh?
DAVEY
Uh, no sir.
LITTLE BILL
Alright, you did the cutting so come this fall you bring in
five ponies and you give them over to Skinny here.
MIKE
Five?
LITTLE BILL
And you... you bring in two, you give them over, you hear?
DAVEY
Yes, sir.
CLYDE
Here's your bull whip, Little Bill.
LITTLE BILL
Maybe we won't need this whip now. Let me tell you
come the spring, if Skinny doesn't have those ponies
(he cracks the whip)
I'm going to come looking for you.
ALICE
You ain't even going to whip them?
LITTLE BILL
Well, fined them instead, Alice.
ALICE
For what they done? Skinny get's some ponies, and that's it?
That ain't fair, Little Bill. That ain't fair!
(LITTLE BILL grabs her and pulls her towards him.)
LITTLE BILL
Haven't you seen enough blood for one night, Huh?
Hell, Alice, it ain't like they were tramps, or loafers or bad men,
you know there were just hard working boys who were foolish. If they was
given over to wickedness in a regular way then I could see...
ALICE
Like whores?
SKINNY
Alice! tend to Delilah.
LITTLE BILL
Go ahead.
INT DAYDELILAH'S ROOM
(The women are sitting around a bed where DELILAH lies unconscious.)
SILKY
I got eighty five dollars.
KATE
I don't know, if Delilah doesn't care one way or the other what are we
all getting so riled up about?
ALICE
Just because we let them smelly fools ride us like horses
don't mean we gotta let them brand us like horses. Maybe
we ain't nothing but whores but, by God, we ain't horses.
LITTLE SUE
I've got one hundred and twelve dollars. That's everything.
ALICE
How about you, Faith?
FAITH
Two hundred.
(ALICE stares at her with surprise)
Two hundred and forty dollars.
ALICE
Jesus, Faith, what you been doing? You've been
giving Skinny something Special?
they all laugh
LITLE SUE
She laughed.
ALICE
With what Kate got, and Silky got some, and then mine
and Little Sue's...
KATE
It ain't enough.
ALICE
Not yet, maybe.
EXT --- DAY. William Munny's farm.
KID
You don't look like no rootin-tootin, son-of-a-bitchin,
cold-blooded assassin.
MUNNY
Say what?
KID
My guess is you're calling yourself Mister William Munny
MUNNY
You have me confused with someone else, mister.
KID
The same one who shot Charlie Pepper up in Lake County
BOY
Pa! Hey Pa!
MUNNY
Yeah, What's up son
BOY
Two more hogs got the fever
KID
You shot Charlie Pepper, didn't you. You're the one
who killed William Harvey and robbed that train over
in Missouri.
MUNNY
Now hold on, Mister. Son, you get those hogs separated
there, Penny, why don't you help your brother out.
PENNY
That one's sick too!
MUNNY
Yeah. (to Kid) We'll talk inside.
Interior - Munny's house
MUNNY
So you're Pete Sothow's nephew, huh? I thought maybe
you was someone come to kill me for something I done
in the old days
KID
I could have. Easy.
MUNNY
I guess maybe so.
KID
Like I was saying, you don't look no meaner-than-hell,
cold-blooded damn killer.
MUNNY
Maybe I ain't
KID
Well, uncle Pete says you was the meanest god-damned
son of a bitch alive, and if I ever wanted a
partner for a killing you were the worst one....
meaning the best on account of you're as cold as the
snow and you don't have no weak nerve, nor fear.
MUNNY
Pete said that, huh.
KID
Yeah. Yeah he did. I'm a killer myself, except I ain't
killed as many as you because of my youth.
The 'Schofield Kid' is what they call me.
MUNNY
Why? Are you from Schofield
KID
No, it's on account of my Schofield model Smith and
Wesson pistol.
How about it, Will?
MUNNY
How about what?
KID
How about being my partner. I'm heading up north in
through Niobrera to Wyoming. I'm gonna kill a
couple of no-good cowboys.
MUNNY
For what?
KID
For cuttin' up a lady. They cut her face, cut her eyes
out, cut here ears off, hell, they even cut her teats,
MUNNY
Jesus
KID
A Thousand Dollars reward, Will. Five hundred apiece.
BOY
Pa, I can't move those damn pigs!
MUNNY
Watch your cussin now, will you? Do the best you can
with it and go to the pump and get yourself
cleaned up.
MUNNY
I ain't like that anymore, Kid. It was whiskey done
it as much as anything else. I ain't had a drop of it
in over ten years. My wife, she cured me of that, cured
me of drink and wickedness
KID
Well, you don't look so prosperous. You could buy her
a new dress with your half. We could kill them two,
you could buy your wife one fancy...
MUNNY
She's passed on.
KID
What?
MUNNY
She's been gone near three years now
KID
Oh.
Exterior - Day - Munny's porch
KID
Don't tell no one else about the reward and all. I
don't need no other gunmen trying to collect.
MUNNY
We don't see no one out here
KID
Yeah. Well, if you change your mind might be you can
catch me. I'll be riding due west for the western
trail heading north into Wyoming.
MUNNY
(to children)
Come on. Let's separate those hogs.
PENNY
Pa. two of them others, I think they got the fever!
`EXT DAY
DAVEY and MIKE ride into Big Whiskey with a group of ponies behind them.
The women watch them as they ride toward Skinnys
SKINNY
Took you boys a while. Couple more days and
I was going to call on the sheriff, how about that?
DAVEY
The river was all swolled up, we couldn't cross it.
SKINNY
I'll bet. Sleepy, get them horses into the livery.
Neil, take that one over around back.
(the ponies move towards the barn) Yeah, come on.
Whoo! Now get on.
(he walks toward the pony which DAVEY has held back)
Oh, now here's a beauty.
DAVEY
You got two of mine! this one here ain't yours.
SKINNY
Oh, we going to see about that.
suddenly the women begin pelting MIKE and DAVEY with rocks
Chaos ensues as they ponies begin to bolt.
WOMEN
Get out of town! Get out! Take your girlfriend
with ya, you butcher!
DAVEY
This here pony I bung for the lady. The one my partner cut.
She's the best of the lot, better than the ones I gave him.
She can sell her or do what she wants.
ALICE
A pony? She ain't got no face left, you're going to giver her
a god damn mangy pony?
DAVEY
She ain't mangy, ma'am.
WOMEN
Get out of here! We don't need your charity!
Get out of our town.
INT DAY - MUNNY'S HOUSE
MUNNY is digging through a box. We see a picture of his wife. He looks at it momentarily and then
continues his hunt. He finds what he is looking for.
EXT DAY - MUNNY'S FARM
We see MUNNY firing at a pistol at a can which set up on a stump. He misses with each shot.
PENNY
Did pa used to kill folks?
MUNNY storms into the house and then comes back out with a shotgun. He aims at the can and
shoots hitting it on the first shot.
INT DAY - MUNNY'S HOUSE
MUNNY is shaving in preparation for a journey. As he glances out the window we catches sight of
his wife's grave and stares at it for a time.
EXT DAY - MUNNY'S FARM
MUNNY is on the porch saying goodbye to his children. His son holds the horse which is saddled
and ready to ride
MUNNY
Penny, I could tell your ma liked those
flowers I gave her
BOY
She ain't hardly a saddle horse no more, Pa.
She ain't used to the feel.
MUNNY
Now you take care of your sister now, son. And
you kill a few chickens if you have to, and
keep those hogs that got the fever separate. If
you have any problems go see Sally Two Trees at
Ned Logan's.
MUNNY
(trying to mount horse)
Woah! Woah!
MUNNY
Ain't hardly been in the saddle myself in a while.
This horse is getting even with me for the sins of
my youth. In my youth, before I met your dear
departed ma, I used to be weak and given to
mistreating animals.
(to horse)
Come on, Come on.
This horse and those hogs over there are getting
even with me for the cruelty that I inflicted. I
used to be able to cuss and whip a horse like this
but your ma, rest her soul, showed me the error of
my ways. Now I'll be back in a couple of weeks.
You remember how the spirit of your dear departed
Ma watches over you.
Int. Skinny's
SKINNY is holding ALICE by the arms and shaking her violently.
SKINNY
Where'd you get that money?
ALICE
We ain't got any money!.
SKINNY
You told them cowboys you got it.
ALICE
we was lying.
SKINNY
Lying? What are you gonna do when somebody
comes to collect? huh? You gonna hump 'em?
(yells) You gonna hump em a thousand times?
The kind of people who'll come after that thousand
won't tolerate you not having it! They won't just cut
up your face a little! (he exits muttering)
You stupid bitches. You stupid bitches....
EXT DAY
Little Bill's house. Bill is building a roof on his house with much difficulty.
We hear the sounds of hammering and then LITTLE BILL hitting his thumb
LITTLE BILL
Shit! Damn, damnit, Jesus
SKINNY
Hit your finger, huh
LITTLE BILL
Hello, Skinny. Damn, you snuck up on me. What do
you think of her?
SKINNY
Well, I heard you done the roof yourself.
LITTLE BILL
Roof? Jesus, Skinny, I did practically the whole damn thing
myself. Well, the Roberts boy, he carried some wood for me
but that's all.
SKINNY
What is all that wood?
LITTLE BILL
That's for my porch. I'm building a porch here
so I can sit of an evening and smoke my pipe,
drink coffee and watch the sunset. Well, came all the
way out here just to take a look at her, huh?
SKINNY
Oh, them whores...
LITTLE BILL
Oh, yeah?
SKINNY
Them whores been humpin and humpin all them
cowboys been coming to town the last two weeks.
LITTLE BILL
Shit, skinny. We got our railroad barons, we got cattle
barons. You're going be the first billiard baron.
SKINNY
yeah, well they been humpin them and telling every
bow-legged one of them that they're paying a thousand
dollars to whatever son of a bitch kills the two boys that
cut up Delilah.
LITTLE BILL
Those cowboys are riding that beef down to Kansas and
Cheyenne.
SKINNY
Yeah
LITTLE BILL
How long? All week?
SKINNY
Well, I didn't hear nothing till last night myself.
LITTLE BILL
Hell, the words probably got all the way down to
Texas by now.
SKINNY
Shit, Bill. I'm sure nobody's going to come clear
from Texas.
LITTLE BILL
You sure those whores got all that money?
SKINNY
Well, you know how women can lie. Knock them around
a little bit, ask them where the money is and they ain't got
none. But they could have squirelled away that much, the
five of them. Maybe.
LITTLE BILL
That much, huh.
SKINNY
You could run off them two cowboys.
LITTLE BILL
I could run off them whores.
SKINNY
Well, I guess they'll just up and run anyhow, them two.
LITTLE BILL
No, they'll stay out there at the Bar T, close to their friends.
SKINNY
nervously
Oh, Shit, Bill, could be nobody won't come at all.
(quickly) Well, gotta go. I like your house.
Ext Day Ned Logan's farm. NED, working catches sight of a man riding towards him. He stares
for a moment before his face brightens in recognition.
NED
Well I'll be........ Will. Hey, Will. come on in the
house out of the sun.
MUNNY
Ned,
NED
Sally, tend to Will's horse.
MUNNY
Sally,
NED
What you doing here, Will?
MUNNY
Just thought I'd drop in on you.
INT DAY NED LOGAN'S KITCHEN
NED
Hell, Will. We ain't bad men no more, shit, we're farmers.
MUNNY
Should be easy killing them. Supposing they don't go on
down to Texas first.
NED
How long has it been since you fired a gun at a man, Will?
Nine, ten years?
MUNNY
Eleven.
NED
Easy, huh? Hell, I don't know that it was all that easy
even back then, and we was young and full of beans. I mean,
if you was mad at them, Will. If they'd done you some wrong
I could see shooting them.
MUNNY
We done stuff for money before, Ned.
NED
Yeah. We thought we did. Alright, so what did these
fellas do? Cheat at cards? Steal some strays? Spit on
a rich fella - what?
MUNNY
No, they cut up a woman.
NED
What?
MUNNY
Yeah, they cut up her face, cut her eyes out,
cut her fingers off, cut her tits, everything but her
cunny I suppose.
NED
I'll be dogged. Well, I guess they got it coming.
'Course, you know, Will, if Claudia was alive
you wouldn't be doing this.
MUNNY
(resentfully)
Don't suppose you'd mind looking in on my youngsters
next week, they got some hogs they're trying to separate.
NED
Will, how long you reckon you're going to be?
MUNNY
Two weeks I guess.
NED
Will, uh..... This kid, what's he like? Three ways?
MUNNY
I see you still have that spencer rifle
NED
Yeah and I can still knock the eye out of a bird flying, too.
EXT DAY.
MUNNY tries to mount his horse who, in turn, has other plans.
NED
Jesus, Will....
MUNNY
Down!
Will mounts his horse. Ned and Sally share a long look before the pair ride off leaving the woman
behind.
EXT DAY
MUNNY and NED are riding in pursuit of KID
NED
He must be moving right along
WILL
Yeah, we'll come across him tomorrow I reckon.
EXT - NIGHT
MUNNY and NED are preparing for sleep as a fire blazes
MUNNY
Kind of got used to my bed. This ain't going to be like no home
NED
uh-huh. That ain't the only thing I'm going to be missing,
I'll tell ya. Boy, I'm going to...
(pauses realizing that he is talking to a widower)
Hell, Will, I'm sorry
MUNNY
Don't fret it, it ain't nothing. (pausing) She don't like it much,
does she? You riding off with me.
NED
Sally?
MUNNY
Gave me the evil eye.
NED
Well, you know, Sally's Indian and Indians ain't over friendly, Will.
MUNNY
Hmmm. I ain't going to hold it against her. She knew me back then.
She knew what a no-good son of a bitch I was She just ain't allowing
that I've changed. She don't realize I ain't like that no more.
NED
Well you know, Will---
MUNNY
I ain't the same, Ned. Claudia, she straightened me up,
cleared me of drinking whiskey and all. Just cause we're going on this killing,
that don't mean I'm going to go back to being the way I was.
I just need the money, get a new start for them youngsters.
NED
Yeah, well--
MUNNY
Ned, you remember that drover I shot through the mouth and his teeth
came out the back of his head?
NED
Yeah,
MUNNY
I think about him now and again. He didn't do anything to deserve
getting shot, at least nothing I could remember when I sobered up.
NED
Well.... You was one crazy son of a bitch, Will.
MUNNY
Yeah, no one liked me. Mountain boys all thought I was going
to shoot em out of pure meanness.
NED
Well, you ain't like that no more
MUNNY
Eagle, he hated my guts. Bonaparte didn't think to much of me either.
NED
Quincy neither, I reckon.
MUNNY
No. Quincy used to just watch all the time. Scared.
NED
Well, like I said, you ain't like that no more.
MUNNY
That's right. I'm just a fella now. I ain't no different than anyone
else no more.
EXT DAY
We see a train roll by
INT TRAIN
JOE
All I want to know is what son of a bitch shot him is all.
Was it one of those John-Bulls?
BOB
Oh no, sir. I believe the would-be assassin to be of French ancestry,
or so it would seem. I don't wish to give offense when I observe that
the French are known to be a race of as-sassins, though they can't shoot
worth a damn. Any Frenchmen in the present company are excluded, of course.
PASSENGER
Says here a fella by the name of Guiteau, G-U-I-T-
JOE
Sure as hell sounds like a John Bull to me
BOB
Well, Sir, again I don't wish to give offense when I suggest that this
country should select a, uh, king or even a queen instead of a president.
One isn't that quick to shoot a king or a queen.
The majesty of royalty, you see.
JOE
Well, maybe you don't wish to give offense,
Sir, but you are giving it pretty thick. This country don't need no queens
whatsoever, I reckon. As a matter of fact what I heard about queens---
THIRSTY
Shut up, Joe!
JOE
What's the hell's wrong with you, Thirsty, This dud son of a bitch--
THIRSTY
Might be that this dude here is English Bob. He's the one who works
for the railroad shootin' Chinamen. Might be he's just waiting for some crazy
cowboy to touch his pistol so he can shoot him down.
JOE
Is that a fact, mister? Are you English Bob?
BOB
(to BEAUCHAMP) Pheasants?
(Beauchamp nods approval)
Let's shoot some pheasants. Ten shots at, let's say, a dollar a shot.
I'll shoot for the queen and you for.....well, whomever.
EXT DAY TRAIN
We see the countryside roll by. All of a sudden a flock of pheasants come into view only to be shot
down by BOB.
BOB
Well, that's eight for me and one for you.
That comes to seven of your American dollars.
JOE
Pretty damn good shooting for a John-Bull.
BOB
Well, no doubt your aim was affected by your grief over the injury to your president.
EXT DAY -- BIG WHISKEY
BOB and BEAUCHAMP get off the train and climb aborad a carriage bound for Big Whiskey
BOB
Come On!
BOB
Ah, it's the climate that does it. That and the infernal distances.
BEAUCHAMP
Does what?
BOB
Induces people to shoot persons in high places.
BEAUCHAMP
Yeah, right
(The pass a sign reading)
NO FIRE ARMS in
BIG WHISKEY ordinance h
deposit
pistols & rifles at
COUNTY OFFICE
BOB
You know, it's a savage country really.
That's the second one they've shot in twenty years.
It's uncivilized shooting persons of substance.
(BOB waves at the women as he passes by and then, passing a group of Chinamen, makes a pistol with
his hand and mimes shooting at them...)
BOB
(whispering)
pop! pop! pop!
EXT DAY -- BIG WHISKEY
DEPUTY (Andy) watches coach pull up with BOB and BEAUCHAMP inside it. As they disembark
he sees BOB's pistol beneath his jacket. He walks toward them
ANDY
Pardon me, Gentlemen, the local ordinance requires
you to surrender all side arms to the proper
authority for the duration of your visit.
BOB
Proper authority? Well, I can assure you, young man,
that neither my companion nor I carry firearms on our person.
We rely upon the good will of our fellow man
and the forbearance of reptiles.
INT DAY -- SHERIFF'S OFFICE
(FATTY, ANDY, and CHARLIE are loading their weapons)
ANDY
Unarmed My ass.
FATTY
Aw, Christ it's hot
CHARLIE
If I'm gonna get shot I'd rather it's hot than cold.
It hurts more when it's cold. You know how if you hit your thumb
when it's cold---
ANDY
shut up. Fatty---
CHARLIE
I'm only saying---
ANDY
---Clydes back.
CHARLIE
Is Little Bill with him?
ANDY
No.
CHARLIE
Shit
CLYDE
You boys cleaned my remington?
FATTY
Cleaned and loaded
CHARLIE
Where's Little Bill for Christ's sake?
CLYDE
Building his damn porch
CHARLIE
building his porch?
FATTY
If you were to get shot, Andy, would you like it better
on a hot day or a cold day?
ANDY
I ain't going to get shot.
CHARLIE
He's coming ain't he?
CLYDE
(beginning to reload the pistol FATTY has prepared for him)
Of course he's coming
FATTY
I just loaded that, what're you doing?
CLYDE
I don't trust nobody loading my guns, not for a shooting.
CHARLIE
What'd he say?
CLYDE
Little Bill? He didn't say nothing. He said he was building
his porch. Have you seen that thing?
FATTY
It was all loaded. I mean, Jesus, Clyde, you've got three pistols
and only one arm for Christ's sake.
CLYDE
I just don't want to get killed for lack of shootin' back.
You know he don't have a straight angle in that whole
god damned porch, or the whole house for that matter.
He is the worse damn carpenter.
CHARLIE
He didn't say nothing, huh?
CLYDE
Asked what they looked like, that's all. Christ, maybe he's tough
but he ain't no damn carpenter.
ANDY
well maybe he ain't so tough
CHARLIE
did he seem like he was scared?
CLYDE
Little Bill? Him scared?
CHARLIE
We've never seen him up against any like these ones. Killers.
CLYDE
Little Bill come out of Kansas and Texas, boys.
He worked them tough towns.
CHARLIE
Just wondered. Anybody could be scared.
CLYDE
Well, he wasn't scared, boys. He just ain't no carpenter
INT BARBERSHOP DAY
(BOB is getting a shave while BEAUCHAMP watches)
BOB
Well, there's a dignity in royalty. A majesty which precludes the
likelihood of assassination. Now if your were to point a pistol
at a king or a queen you hands would shake as though palsied
BARBER
Well, I wouldn't point no pistol at nobody, sir.
BOB
Well, that's a wise policy. A wise policy. But if you did,
I can assure you that if you did the sight of royalty would
cause you to dismiss all thoughts of bloodshed and
you would stand - how shall I put it? - in awe.
Now a president? I mean, why not shoot a president?
(they move towards the door. Beauchamp flips a coin at the barber)
BEAUCHAMP
Keep the change
BARBER
Thank you.
BOB
Now, this Strawberry Alice person, tell me again?
BARBER
Down the street and across. Greenley's beer garden
and billiard parlor. Just ask for Alice, say you want
a game of billiards.
BOB
Billiards?
BARBER
Uh-huh
BOB
Even though I don't really wish to play?
BARBER
No matter. They burned the table in seventy-eight for firewood.
BOB
Quite right. Quite right.
(he steps out the door and into)
EXT DAY
BOB
Well, Mr. Beauchamp, I think a cup of tea would be ---
(we hear pistols cocking and see the deputies surrounding the doorway)
(Bob surveys the scene looking from deputy to deputy and back to LITTLE BILL who stands out IN T
the road.)
LITTLE BILL
Hello, Bob. Boys, this here is English Bob.
BOB
Shit and fried eggs.
LITTLE BILL
It's been a long time, Bob. You run out of Chinamen?
BOB
Little Bill, I thought, well, I thought that you were dead.
I see you've shaved your chin whiskers off.
LITTLE BILL
I was tasting the soup two hours after I ate it..
BOB
Actually what I heard was that you fell off your horse,
drunk of course, and that you broke your bloody
neck.
LITTLE BILL
I heard that one myself, Bob Hell, I even thought that I
was dead till I found out I was just in Nebraska.
Who's your friend?
BOB
W.W. Beauchamp
BEAUCHAMP
Beauchamp
BOB
This is Little Bill Daggett and friends, of course.
BEAUCHAMP
Daggett, from Newton, Hayes? From Abeline?
BOB
In person.
LITTLE BILL
You work for the railroads too, Mr. Beauchamp?
BEAUCHAMP
No, I write. I write.
LITTLE BILL
Letters?-
BOB
Books, Bill, Books. Actually he's my biographer.
(Beauchamp digs into his bag. The sheriffs, nervous, point their guns at him. We see a stain appear in
the front of BEAUCHAMP's pants and a fluid drain from his pant-leg.)
BOB
I wouldn't do that if I were you Mr. Beauchamp
BEAUCHAMP
It's only a book
LITTLE BILL
A book, huh? So I guess that means you boys can read.
So I guess that means you saws the signs outside of town
saying, "surrender your firearms". But like you told young
Andy here, you're not armed are you, Bob.
BOB
Well, not really, Bill. I've got a peacemaker but that wouldn't
worry you, would it. I mean if you don't see it, or more particularly,
if you don't hear it.
LITTLE BILL
I'm afraid so, Bob. We don't like firearms here.
(Bob reaches for his gun slowly and LITTLE BILL does likewise. BOB opts instead to lift his
jacket open exposing his pistol. BILL motions to ANDY to take the gun which he does.)
BOB
Be very careful with it, Sonny.
LITTLE BILL
Charlie, see what kind of books Mr. Beauchamp is packing
here. Make sure you don't get wet.
(CHARLIE get's the book from his bag)
CHARLIE
No shit, Little Bill, all he's got here is writin stuff and
this here book (shows the cover to LITTLE BILL)
LITTLE BILL
(Reading)
"The Duck of Death"
BEAUCHAMP
Uh, Duke
BOB
the Duke, Bill.
(turning from LITTLE BILL as if to leave)
Well, good afternoon, Gentlemen.
LITTLE BILL
I'll have that .32, Bob.
BOB
(turning to face LITTLE BILL)
Now, Little Bill, you will leave me at the mercy of my enemies.
(He opens the other side of his jacket to reveal a smaller pistol)
LITTLE BILL
(walking forward to take pistol)
Enemies, Bob. You been talking about the queen again, on
independence day?
(He begins to beat BOB savagely. after knocking him into
the street he begins to kick BOB).
LITTLE BILL
I guess you think I'm kicking you, Bob. It ain't so.
What I'm doing is talking. You here? I'm talking to
all those villains down there in Kansas. I'm talking to
those villains in Missouri. And all those villains
down there in Cheyenne, and I'm telling them there ain't no
whores gold. And even if there was, well they wouldn't want
to come looking for it anyhow. What are you all looking at? Go on!
Get out of here! Scoot! Go on, mind your own business.
EXT DAY
MUNNY and NED are riding in pursuit of KID
NED
Hey, Will. You ever go into town
MUNNY
On occasion. Sell a hog, pick up supplies
NED
No, I mean, to get yourself a woman or something
MUNNY
No Uh.. no I never go into town for that. A man like me?
The only woman a man like me can get is one he has to pay for.
That ain't right, peddling flesh. Claudia, God rest her soul, would
never want me doing something like that, me being a father and all.
NED
You just use your hand?
MUNNY
I don't miss it all that much.
(shots are fired throwing MUNNY from his horse. NED dives to the ground.
MUNNY crawls towards NED).
NED
Will! God damnit, somebody's shooting at us.
MUNNY
Yeah,.
NED
(noticing blood on MUNNY's face)
Oh shit, did he hit you.
MUNNY
(noticing the blood)
No, I bumped my head falling off my horse.
NED
He ain't shooting at us no more. He's shooting way
over yonder. What the hell's he shooting at over
there?
MUNNY
Beats the hell out of me
NED
You don't reckon we in somebody's field, do you?
MUNNY
I didn't see nothing planted
NED
He's shooting at us again He's shooting up the whole horizon
MUNNY
Hey!!
NED
Now wait a minute, you'll mark us
MUNNY
Hey, Kid
NED
Kid? You mean that's the kid shooting at us
MUNNY
Hey, Kid, it's Will Munny
NED
What the hell's the kid shooting at us for
MUNNY
Is that you?
KID
Yeah. Yeah, it's me
MUNNY
Now don't go shooting at us no more, you hear me.
KID
Who in the hell you got with you, Will
MUNNY
It's Ned Logon, my old partner. Now don't go shooting at us,
you hear me. We're going to collect our horses and come on over
there. You ain't going to shoot now, are you.
KID
No. No I ain't.
EXT DAY UNDER TREE
MUNNY
chased that horse a damned mile.
NED
What the hell was you shooting at us for
KID
I thought you was following me
MUNNY
We was following you. Like you said, if I changed my mind---
KID
Wasn't nothing said about no partner, Will
MUNNY
Well, This here's Ned Logon. This is the Schofield Kid, nephew to
Pete Sothow.
KID
I seen two fellas following me. My guess is you come to kill me.
We never talked about no other fella.
MUNNY
Well there's two of them cowboys, isn't there, better there's three of
us in case they got friends.
KID
I figure I can take care of those two cowboys myself.
It don't take three
MUNNY
Ned's an awful good shot with a rifle. He can hit a bird in
the eye flying.
NED
Better than you, anyhow, kid. Hell, you wasn't even coming close.
(he bends and picks up KID's rifle)
KID
(going for his pistol) Get your damn hands off my rifle, mister.
(MUNNY and NED look at each other)
NED
Thought maybe I'd check it for you. Make sure nothing's bent
KID
It ain't bent.
NED
Well, you was shooting all over creation.
KID
You going to share you half with him?
MUNNY
I figured three ways.
KID
You figured wrong
MUNNY
Sorry I wasted your time, Ned.
KID
What, you're going back with him?
MUNNY
He's my partner. He don't go I don't go.
KID
What's it come to three ways?
We see the three of them ride off together.
EXT DAY
We watch the trio ride across the plains. Munny is staring into the sky
MUNNY
Shit
KID
(to MUNNY)
What the hell are you pissing on about?
(pause)
well, what are you looking at?
NED
Clouds, Kid. He's looking at them clouds over
yonder on account of we got a storm riding up our ass.
KID
Oh, them. Hell, I seen them.
NED
You were smart to change your mind, Kid.
KID
Yeah?
NED
Yeah. I'm a real good shot with this rifle. Here.
See that hawk up there (points to sky) I could hit that
hawk with one shot.
KID
Hell, I could hit it too, Ned, if I didn't mind wasting a shot
NED
There ain't no hawk, kid You can't see for shit, can you.
KID
(Grabs NED's canteen and throws it to the ground)
See your canteen?
(shoots the canteen twice)
NED
All right, how far can you see.
KID
Far enough
NED
We ain't going to Wyoming to shoot canteens,
God damnit, how far? A hundred yards?
KID
More.
NED
Can you see that scrub oak yonder?
KID
Fuck You, Ned!
NED
He's blind, Will
KID
I ain't blind, you asshole.
(points pistol at NED)
MUNNY
Now hold on. Hold it. How far can you see, Kid?
Fifty yards?
KID
You bet your ass I can see fifty yards, Will. I can see
well enough to shoot this son of a bitch right here in front of me.
MUNNY
Now hold on. You hear that, Ned? The kid can see fifty yards. Fine.
NED
Jesus.
MUNNY
Fifty yards will do just fine now let's move out.
INT JAIL NIGHT
LITTLE BILL is sitting at a table reading "The Duke of Death". BOB lies, beaten, inside one of the
rooms two cells. BEAUCHAMP is sitting in the cell with him.
LITTLE BILL
Boy, they look like real hard cases, Bob. Did you
kill all seven of them dead or did you just wing some
of them? Now that is you there, isn't it, Bob, on the cover;
The Duck of Death.
BEAUCHAMP
Uh, The Duke. Duke of death.
LITTLE BILL
You always were hell and Jesus with a pistol, Bob.
And seven of them, and you protecting that woman.
How in the hell do you do that.
BEAUCHAMP
Uh, you see, it's generally considered desirable in the publishing
business to take a certain liberty when you are depicting the cover
scene. It's for reasons involving the marketplace, et. cetera.
LITTLE BILL
Well, Mr. Beauchamp, from what I've read in this here book the
writing's not that much different than the picture.
BEAUCHAMP
Well, I can assure you, Mr. Daggett, that the events that are described
in there are taken from the account of eyewitnesses.
LITTLE BILL
Eyewitnesses?
BEAUCHAMP
Yes, sir.
LITTLE BILL
You mean like The Duck himself, I guess.
BEAUCHAMP
The Duke
LITTLE BILL
Duck, I says.
(reading)
"You have insulted the honor of this beautiful woman, Corchran."
Said The Duck. "You must apologize." But Two-Gun Corchran
would have none of it, and, cursing, he reached for his pistols and
would have killed him, but The Duck was faster, and hot lead blazed
from his smoking six-guns."
BEAUCHAMP
See, I consider that to be an accurate description of the events
---Albeit--- All right, there is a certain poetry to the language which
I couldn't resist.
LITTLE BILL
Uh, Mr. Beauchamp I was in the Blue Bottle Saloon in Wichita on
the night that English Bob killed Corky Corchran, and I didn't see you
there, nor no woman. No two-gun shooters. None of this.
BEAUCHAMP
(in awe)You were there?
LITTLE BILL
Yeah, I was there. First off, Corky never carried two guns, though
he should have.
BEAUCHAMP
(defensive)
Now he was---he was called Two Gun Corchran.
LITTLE BILL
Yeah, well, a lot of folks did call him Two Gun, but that wasn't because
he was sporting two pistols, it was because he had a dick that was so
big it was longer than the barrel on that Walker-Colt that he carried.
And the only insulting he ever did was stick that thing of his into this
French lady that English Bob here was kind of sweet on.
You see, the night that Corky walked into the Blue Bottle and before
he knows what's happened, Bob here takes a shot at him, and he misses
because he's so damned drunk. Now that bullet whizzing by panicked old
Corky and he did the wrong thing. He went for his gun in such a hurry he
shot his own damn toe off.
Meantime Bob here, he's aiming real good and he squeezes off another.
But he misses cause he's still so damned drunk, and he hits this thousand
dollar mirror up over the bar.
Now The Duck of Death is as good as dead because Corky does it
right. He aims real careful, no hurry, and BAM!!!! the Walker-Colt
blew up in his hand which was a failing common to that model.
You see, if old Corky had've had two guns, instead of just a big dick,
he would have been right there to the end to defend himself.
BEAUCHAMP
(shaken)
Wait a minute. You mean that English Bob killed him when
he didn't even have---
LITTLE BILL
Well, old Bob wasn't going to wait for Corky to grow a new hand.
He just walked over there real slow, cause he was drunk.
Shot him right through the liver
(makes popping sound and chuckles).
EXT NIGHT
(NED, KID, and MUNNY are preparing for sleep around a blazing camp fire.)
NED
(Moving rocks from his bed with disgust)
Damn! I don't like rocks all over my dadgum back.
I sure do miss my bed.
MUNNY
You said that last night.
NED
Last night I said I missed my wife.
Tonight I just miss my dadgum bed.
MUNNY
You'll miss your dadgum roof here in a while, I suppose.
NED
Oh, shit!
(KID comes toward the fire and lays down on his bed roll.)
KID
Say, Will,
MUNNY
huh
KID
That business up in Jackson county, that really happen?
I mean the way they say it happened?
MUNNY
What business?
KID
On how there's two deputies up close pointing their
rifles right at you. Had you dead to rights. You pulled out
your pistol and blew them both to hell.
You only took a scratch yourself.
Yeah, Uncle Pete says he ain't never seen nothing like it,
shooting your way out of a scrape like that.
MUNNY
Yeah. Well I don't recollect.
KID
(annoyed)
You don't recollect?
MUNNY
That's right
KID
Say, Ned, how many men you killed.
(NED doesn't answer)
Aren't you going to answer the question?
NED
What the hell's that to you?
KID
Well, I gotta know what kind of fella I'm riding with in
case we get into a scrape and all.
(NED looks at him)
NED
How many men you killed, Kid?
KID
Five.
NED
(disbelieving)
How many?
KID
(angry)
Five. I done killed five of them. That's including
the Mexican, he done come at me with a knife.
MUNNY
Would you shut up? Get some rest.
KID
You boys are as crotchety as a couple of old hens, let me tell ya.
(he lays down)
INT CELL
(BEAUCHAMP is sitting at the table with a writing pad in front of him. LITTLE BILL is sprawled
out on a bench across from him while BOB lies in his cell on the bunk)
BEAUCHAMP
Actually, then, Mr. Corchran was faster on the draw
than The Duck--- than E--English Bob
LITTLE BILL
Faster? Faster was his mistake. If he hadn't been in such a
god damned hurry, he wouldn't have shot himself in the toe
with that first shot, he would have killed ol' Bob.
Look, son, being a good shot, being quick with a pistol,
that don't do no harm, but it don't mean much next to being
cool headed. A man who will keep his head and not get rattled
under fire, like as not, he'll kill you.
BEAUCHAMP
But if the other fella is quicker and fires first---
LITTLE BILL
then he'll be hurrying and he'll miss. Look here
(stands up and pulls his pistol)
That's about as fast as I can draw and aim and hit anything
more than ten feet away, unless it's a barn.
BEAUCHAMP
But if he doesn't miss?
LITTLE BILL
Then he'll kill you.
(laughs)
That's why there's so few dangerous men around like old Bob.
Like me. It ain't so easy to shoot a man anyhow, especially
if the son-of-a-bitch is shooting back at you. I mean,
that'll just flat rattle some folks.
(both laugh)
Let me show you something...
BEAUCHAMP
(writing)
Just---just one moment--.
LITTLE BILL
(reaching into the desk drawer)
Look here.
BEAUCHAMP
I know, just---
LITTLE BILL
(pulling a pistol from the drawer and laying it on the table)
Take that!
(BOB becomes interested at this point)
Now, there's the key
(throws key on table)
All you've got to do is shoot me, and you and Bob can just ride
on out of here free as birds.
BEAUCHAMP
(flustered)
Wait. It isn't..... is it loaded?
LITTLE BILL
Wouldn't do you much good if it wasn't. First you got to cock it.
(BEAUCHAMP stares at the pistol but does nothing. BOB struggles
to a seated position)
Go on. Cock it.
(BEAUCHAMP does and stands up holding the pistol clumsily.)
Now you got to point it
(BEAUCHAMP stares at LITTLE BILL)
Go on, point it.
(BEAUCHAMP does but still clumsily. It is obvious he is no gunslinger)
Now all you got to do is pull the trigger, Mister.
(BEAUCHAMP's grip on the pistol tightens a little and for a moment we
think he might actually do it but the moment passes quickly and he lowers
the weapon. LITTLE BILL begins to laugh.)
Hot, ain't it. You didn't even put your finger on the trigger.
BEAUCHAMP
What if----- What if I gave it to him?
(motions towards BOB)
LITTLE BILL
Give it to him.
BEAUCHAMP
(unsure )
You don't..... you don't really want me to---
LITTLE BILL
(harshly)
Give it to him.
(BEAUCHAMP walks towards the cell and holds the pistol out towards BOB who rises to his feet. He
wants the pistol and reaches toward it. His hand hovers near the pistol for a second but he thinks better
and lays his hand on the bars instead.)
LITTLE BILL
I guess he don't want it, Mr. Beauchamp.
(LITTLE BILL walks forward and takes the gun from BEAUCHAMP who walks across the room and
re-takes his seat. Chuckling, LITTLE BILL begins to unload the pistol letting each bullet fall to the
floor. We hear five shells hit the ground before he turns the last chamber. When we don't hear a bullet
hit the floor we realize the chamber was empty.)
LITTLE BILL
You were right not to take it, Bob. I would have killed you.
(He walks across the room and, throwing the pistol on the table, continues to the window which he
looks out of.)
LITTLE BILL
We could use some rain, Mr. Beauchamp.
EXT NIGHT
It is raining hard. MUNNY is trying to mount his horse .
MUNNY
Whoa! Whoa, God damn! You no good pig fucking whore! Whoa!
(he finally gets on the horse)
Sorry old horse!
EXT NIGHT
It is still raining as MUNNY, NED, and KID ride towards Big Whiskey
NED
(holding up a bottle of whiskey)
I brung this along for when we have to kill them fellas.
Figure we could use some now.
MUNNY
Not me. I don't touch that stuff no more.
NED
Oh, come on, Will. It's raining
MUNNY
I know it's raining Give some to the kid, why don't you
NED
Do you think that kid really killed five men?
MUNNY
No.
NED
You know, when he was talking back there about the time
them deputies had the drop on you and Pete?
MUNNY
Yeah.
NED
Well, I remember it was three men you shot, Will, not two.
MUNNY
Well I ain't like that no more, Ned. I ain't no crazy killing fool?
NED
Still think it's going to be easy to kill them cowboys?
MUNNY
If we don't drown first.
EXT DAY
(LITTLE BILL is walking across the porch of the sheriffs office towards a waiting wagon.)
LITTLE BILL
Give these keys to the conductor.
(hands keys to wagon driver)
Tell him he can loose old Bob's cuffs as soon as he's outside the county.
DRIVER
Yep.
BOB
Got my pistols?
LITTLE BILL
(hands BOB a pistol with the barrel bent over)
I guess you know Bob that if I see you again I'm just going to
start shooting and figure it's self defense.
(BOB stares at LITTLE BILL as the wagon pulls away. As it does so we see BEAUCHAMP standing
in front of the sheriffs office.)
LITTLE BILL
I didn't steal your biographer. He's staying on his own account.
BOB
Well, he can go stuff himself as well, can't he.
(He begins to scream from the back of the wagon)
A plague on you! A plague on the whole stinking lot of you,
without morals or laws! You got no laws! You got no honor!
It's no wonder you all emigrated to America, because they wouldn't
have you in England! You're all a lot of savages, that's what you are.
A bunch of bloody savages! A plague on you. I'll be back!
(we see the women gathered on the porch watching BOB leave town)
ALICE
Nobody's gonna come. Not after what Little Bill done to that Englishman.
SKINNY
Delilah, them tables ain't clean. Can't you get them clean?
Maybe if you'd cover up that face a little somebody might want to
hump with you and you wouldn't have to do all that cleaning.
(offhandedly)
What do you call them things you cover up your face with?
FAITH
A veil.
SKINNY
Yeah, a veil. Get a veil.
ALICE
Rains coming.
SKINNY
Thank God.
(The women file into the bar leaving ALICE on the porch.)
EXT NIGHT
We see a train rolling slowly through the rain as NED, MUNNY, and KID ride into view
As the train passes we see ENGLISH BOB inside asleep against a window.
NED
(Offering the bottle of whiskey)
Will?
(MUNNY declines it)
You sure?
MUNNY looks at him and rides on. NED hands the bottle to KID who drinks from it as NED rides
after MUNNY.
EXT NIGHT -- OUTSKIRTS OF BIG WHISKEY
It is still raining. MUNNY has begun to caugh, the first sign a coming sickness. The three of them ride
past the notice and into Big Whiskey.
NED
You all right there, Will?
MUNNY only continues caughing.
INT NIGHT -- ALICE'S BEDROOM
Hey. There's a fella asking for you, Alice.
ALICE
Tonight? You ain't joshin?
(calling into the hall)
This way mister.
ALICE
Must be randy as hell to come out in this shit.
KID enters the room taking off his hat.
INT NIGHT -- LITTLE BILL'S HOME
BEAUCHAMP is seated at a table copying furiously while LITTLE BILL paces the floor orating. All
about the room there are pans of water catching leaks from the celing.
LITTLE BILL
(in the middle of a story)
"No, no, you're wrong, Little Bill," he said, "that's not a Curly J.
That's a Bobbed J." (laughs) He had changed it over and I said to him,
"Jim, you're a liar and a horse thief. Oh Now when he saw that the rest
of them weren't going to help him none he, of course, started crying and
sobbing and just carying on saying "Oh, Bill! Oh God, please don't kill
me, Bill! Please don't kill me, Bill!" I said,
(picks up a bowl of water)
"Jim, it just makes me sick!---open a window, will you---
BEAUCHAMP
Uh, Yeah.
(gets up and opens window)
LITTLE BILL
--to see a man carrying two pistols and a henry rifle and crying
like a damned baby."
(he throws the bowl of water out the window)
BEAUCHAMP
So you killed him?
LITTLE BILL
No. But I should have. I can't abide them kind You see them
In the taverns, you know, tramps and drunk teamsters and crazed miners,
BEAUCHAMP
(getting up and moving to another part of the table
where water isn't dripping)
Yeah.
LITTLE BILL
sporting their pistols and acting like they was bad men but without
any sand or character. Not even any bad character. I do not like
assasians--
BEAUCHAMP
assasians
LITTLE BILL
or men of low character.
BEAUCHAMP
Yeah.
LITTLE BILL
Like your friend English Bob.
BEAUCHAMP
Uh-huh
LITTLE BILL
Now Bob, he was no coward, you know. Now he wouldn't
come up to your face and cry carry on like that.
BEAUCHAMP
(raising his hands in disgust over the drips which he can't aviod)
Sheriff, I just--
LITTLE BILL
Yeah. Damn. Well, I don't have any more recepticles.
LITTLE BILL
Maybe you should just hang the carpenter.
(laughs not knowing who the carpenter is)
LITTLE BILL
(angrily) What?
BEAUCHAMP
(flummoxed) Oh, uh, I was just saying that --- because of the---
you know, if you hang--- Doesn't matter.
(There is a knock on the door)
LITTLE BILL
What the hell! On a night like this.... (calling) Who the hell is it?
CHARLEY
It's deputy Charley Hacker, Bill
LITTLE BILL walks to the door and BEAUCHAMP follows him.
LITTLE BILL opens door to reveal a wet, scared, CHARLEY)
LITTLE BILL
What?
CHARLEY
Three fellas just come into town, Bill.They're down to Greenlys.
There's two of them got guns.
INT NIGHT -- GREENLEY'S
The bar is half full. At a table near the stairs sit NED and MUNNY. NED is drinking whiskey while
MUNNY is hunched down in his jacket shivering.
NED
What the hell's keeping that kid? You don't suppose he's up---
(catches a good look at MUNNY)
Jesus, Will, you look like shit!
MUNNY
You remember Eagle Hendershot?
NED
Yeah.
MUNNY
I saw him.
NED
Will, he's dead.
MUNNY
No, I saw him, Ned. His head was all broke open.
You could see inside of it.
NED
Jesus, Will, you got a fever. Take a drink will you.
(pours a drink and hands it to MUNNY)
MUNNY
(Ignores the drink but continues)
Worms were coming out.
NED
Look, Will, I'm going to go up and see what's keeping the kid.
Must be he's getting an advance from one of those sporting ladies.
Will, uh, look if I was to......um.... well, I mean if it worked out that
I could take a little time for myself. I don't suppose you would... I mean
you wouldn't....
(MUNNY looks at him coldly)
No, I guess you wouldn't want to come.
(NED goes up the stairs under the gaze of SKINNY, DELILAH, FATTY, and the
rest of the bar patrons. After he exits their attention turns to MUNNY who is staring at
the whisky NED had poured for him. We feel that he is trying to make a choice.After a time
he pushes the glass away from him and pulls his coat tighter around him.)
(LITTLE BILL enters with ANDY, CLYDE and BEAUCHAMP. At the bar FATTY pulls his pistol.
The patrons begin to move from the line of fire. As the tension mounts ANDY, FATTY, and CLYDE
aim their weapons at MUNNY)
LITTLE BILL
Give me that pistol, Mister
MUNNY
Huh?
LITTLE BILL
I says give me over your pistol
MUNNY
Well, I ain't drunk.
LITTLE BILL
Ordinance says you got to turn in your firearms
to the county office, day or night.
(moves towards MUNNY)
I guess you didn't see the sign with the weather and all.
MUNNY
No. But I ain't..... I ain't armed.
LITTLE BILL
What about your friends upstairs? They got any pistols?
MUNNY
I don't know. No, I guess..... No. They ain't armed either.
LITTLE BILL
Uh-huh. Spilled your whiskey?
MUNNY
Look, I said----
LITTLE BILL
What's your name?
MUNNY
William (coughs) Hendershot.
LITTLE BILL
Well, Mister William Hendershot, what if I was to say
you was a no good son of a bitch and a liar?
(MUNNY stares at him)
LITTLE BILL
And if I was to say that you shit in your pants
because of a cowardly soul, I bet you'd show me that
pistol right quick, wouldn't you? You'd shoot me dead.
Isn't that so?
MUNNY
(pauses looking at the sheriffs)
Maybe. Yeah, I guess. But the fact is I ain't carrying no firearm.
LITTLE BILL
Get up.
(MUNNY looks away for a moment. CLYDE, ANDY, and
FATTY cock their weapons. After a moment MUNNY begins to stand.)
LITTLE BILL
Come on.
(He throws open MUNNY's jacket and pulls out the pistol hidden there)
LITTLE BILL
What's this for, snakes and such?
MUNNY
Yeah.
LITTLE BILL
We don't have any snakes in here, mister Hendershot.
MUNNY
Well, it..(THUNDER) ... It ain't loaded. Powder's wet.
LITTLE BILL
(turning)
You see, Mister Beauchamp. This is the kind of trash
(Pistol whips MUNNY)
I was speaking of.
(MUNNY crawls towards the bar and grabs hold of a bottle)
You find this kind in all your saloons and all your prosperous communities.
(MUNNY tries to turn with the bottle but LITTLE BILL hits him
first knocking him to the floor)
Over in, uh, Cheyanne,
(Kicks MUNNY)
Abeline!
(Kicks MUNNY again then turns to BEAUCHAMP)
But you won't find them in the town of Big Whiskey.
INT NIGHT --- ALICE'S ROOM
ALICE is opening the window while NED and KID are hurridly pulling on their clothes in hopes of
escape
ALICE
Hurry Up!
(to LITLE SUE)
You know what to say to Little Bill.
(to NED)
You got to look sharp for that lone pine. If you miss the pine
you ain't gonna find it.
(puts his hat on NED who is seated in the window pulling his boots on.)
NED
Don't mind the hat mam, just put the fucking boots on
(he falls backwards out the window)
EXT NIGHT -- OUTSIDE DELILAH'S WINDOW
It is still raining. We see NED fall from the window onto a wooden overhang. Behind him we see
KID emerge from the window. NED, who has lost his balance, rolls down the overhang and falls to
the ground hard KID crawls out and drops to the ground next to him as ALICE shuts the window.
NED
Damn!
KID
What about Will? What are we gonna do about Will?
NED
Come on, Kid. Let's hope them horses are still there.
(NED gathers his things and runs offscreen. KID follows him)
INT NIGHT -- SKINNY'S
MUNNY is crawling painfully towards the door past the assembled sheriffs.
LITTLE BILL
(walking up to the bar)
Let the man out, W.W., He's desiring to leave the hospitality
of Big Whiskey behind him.
(BEAUCHAMP looks at LITTLE BILL who smiles back.
BEAUCHAMP turns and opens the door)
EXT NIGHT SKINNY'S PORCH
MUNNY continues his slow crawl out on to the porch and down the steps where he rolls into the
street.
INT NIGHT -- DELILAH'S ROOM
LITTLE BILL is livid with anger at the escape of KID and NED and is taking it out physically on
ALICE while FAITH, LITTLE SUE , SKINNY, CLYDE and BEAUCHAMP look on.
(LITTLE BILL slaps ALICE, knocking her to the floor)
SKINNY
Easy, Little Bill, she's gotta work. She's got to turn a dollar a time!
LITTLE BILL
(Ignoring SKINNY)
If they was just here for the fucking how come the lit out the back window?
ALICE
On account of they seen you was beating on their friend.
LITTLE SUE
They just came here for the billiards, Little Bill, honest.
LITTLE BILL
(Shouting at her)
Billiards?
(pauses looking about the room)
Well, you mean they were just passing through here?
LITTLE SUE
They was going to Fort Buford.
ALICE
You just kicked the shit out of an innocent man.
LITTLE BILL
Innocent? Innocent of what?
EXT NIGHT -- STREETS OF BIG WHISKEY
(It is still raining. Through the gloom we can barely see two men on horseback riding towards us.
They are NED and KID. As they ride towars the outskirts of town we see them approach another
rider clinging weakly to a horse. This is MUNNY. Weak from the combination of fever and LITTLE
BILL's beating he is desperately trying to get away. The two riders converge upon him and NED
grabs for the bridle of MUNNY'S horse)
KID
Aw Jesus!
NED
Will?
(MUNNY does not answer. NED takes the reigns of MUNNY'S horse and leads him as the three
leave town.)
INT NIGHT -- HIDEOUT
(MUNNY is laying unconscious while NED and KID hover over him. KID holds a candle while NED
stitches the cuts on MUNNY'S face.)
KID
Jesus, Ned. You done this before?
NED
Plenty of times
KID
His pistol must've jammed.
NED
(ignoring him)
Here, bring that candle in a little closer. I can't see.
(NED continues to work the needle and thread through the cuts on MUNNY'S face)
KID
He wouldn't have took no beating like that if it hadn't have jammed.
He wouldn't just give it over and not shoot no-one.
EXT DAY -- HIDEOUT
(We see three horses outside a low wooden shack. In the background the mountains loom.)
INT -- HIDEOUT
(Though it is day outside we can hardly tell. The shack is almost as dark as it was last night. KID is
inspecting MUNNY)
KID
He don't look so good.
(KID walks toward the doorway where NED is standing looking out. We also see that ALICE
and SILKY are here.ALCIE is pulling on her clothes)
KID
He didn't even pull his pistol, huh?
NED
Yeah, well he ain't as tough as you, Kid.
KID
Well, at least I would have pulled my pistol, Ned.
NED
Well, you did. Right out of the lady and out the god-damned window
KID
Hey, that was your idea! I wanted to go back and ----
SILKY
Hey, we gotta go.
KID
What? Already? Hey, darlin, I'm ready for another advance
(he lies down and pulls her towards him but she resists)
SILKY
You're going to use it all up before you can get it.
ALICE
No more advances on what you ain't done yet!
KID
(Pulling on his pants)
Hey, sweetheart, we're just waiting on the weather to clear. Once this
weather clears up....
NED
We're going to need more food. About three days worth.
KID
(Jumps to his feet and stands in front of NED)
Three days? We could kill them tomorrow.
NED
I don't kill nobody without him
(points to MUNNY)
KID
We don't need him. The two of us could do it.
Besides, he ain't nothing but a broken down pig farmer.
(SILKY and ALICE ride by on horses heading towards town)
ALICE
One of us will bring food in the morning and we'll
bring you some whiskey, too.
NED
(Shouting after them)
And some medicine if you got any.
(In the background MUNNY is regaining consciousness. We hear him groaning. NED goes to
him and kneels by his side)
KID
Don't it make you sick hearing him like that?
(Shouts to the women)
And don't you ladies worry none. Me and Ned, we'll kill them
two sons of bitches for you.
(He folds open a paper drawings of DAVEY and MIKE)
INT HIDEOUT -- NIGHT
(KID and NED are sitting by a fire. In the backgroun we hear MUNNY, delerious now, talking to
himself)
MUNNY
Claudia! Oooooh,
(NED crawls over to MUNNY and KID soon follows him)
NED
Will.
MUNNY
Claudia.
NED
Claudia's not here.
MUNNY
It that you, Ned?
NED
Uh-huh.
MUNNY
I seen him, Ned. I seen the angel of death.
I see the river, Ned. He's got snake eyes.
NED
Who, Will? Who's got snake eyes?
MUNNY
It's the angel of death. Oh, Ned. I'm scared of dying!
NED
Easy, partner. Easy.
MUNNY
I seen Claudia, too.
NED
That's good, Will. It's good you saw Claudia, ain't it?
MUNNY
Her face was all covered with worms. Oh, Ned, I'm scared.
I'm dying. You won't tell nobody... don't tell my kids.....
none of the things I done, you hear me
NED
All-right, Will.
(KID and NED stare at MUNNY for a moment then KID turns back to the fire. After a moment
NED does too)
(KID and NED are back by the fire.)
KID
He's going to die, ain't he?
NED
Maybe.
KID
Well, supposing he does.
NED
We'll bury him.
KID
That ain't what I mean, Ned.
NED
You mean will I help you kill them cowboys.
KID
Well, I can't spot them myself, but you cold. That big bastard,
you could spot him a half mile off I bet.
NED
And if I spot him?
KID
Well, then I ride up close and shoot him.
((NED stares at KID sizing him up)
NED
Just like that, huh?
KID
I told you I'm a killer. I done it before.
(pauses)
I'm more of a killer than he is anyhow.
(NED looks at him with obvious dis-belief)
NED
Yeah?
KID
Yeah.
(Kid stares at NED then looks away knowing that NED can see through him)
HIDEOUT -- DAY
(DELILAH is wiping MUNNY'S brow.He is regaining consciousness, his fever finally broken)
MUNNY
(Looking at her in momentary shock then with recognition)
I thought you was an angel.
DELILAH
(Laughing)
You ain't dead.
MUNNY
No.
(feels at his face)
Some big fella, he really kicked the hell out of me.
DELILAH
(nods)
MUNNY
I must look kinda like you now.
DELILAH
(She turns her head ashamed)
You don't look nothing like me, Mister.
MUNNY
No offense, but you got to be the one those cowboys cut up.
(pause)
My partners, Ned and that kid, they around?
DELILAH
They went out scouting when they saw your fever broke.
MUNNY
Scouting.
DELILAH
(nods)
Out to the Bar-T. Looking for them.
MUNNY
How long have I been here?
DELILAH
Three days. Are you hungry, or---
MUNNY
Three days, I oughta be.
(She hands him a canteen which he takes slowly and drinks from)
EXT DAY -- HIDEOUT.
(There is snow on the ground We hear MUNNY talking offscreen. Before us are two horses tied
up. One is MUNNY'S the other belongs to DELILAH. She is walking from where the horses are
towards MUNNY. As he comes into view we see his is sitting on a stump looking at the landscape.
A fire burns before him)
MUNNY
I thought I was gone. I wouldn't normally pay no notice to
high country like this Trees. But I sure notice them now.
I thought I was dying for sure.
DELILAH
I brought your hat
(holds it out to him)
You left it down at Greeleys.
MUNNY
(Takes the hat and sets it beside him)
Thanks. That sheriff....He still looking for me?
DELILAH
Little Bill? No, he thinks you went south. Are you really
going to kill them cowboys?
MUNNY
I guess. There's still a payment coming, isn't there?
DELILAH
(She nods)
Them other two, your friends, they been taking advances on the payment.
MUNNY
Advances?
DELILAH
(She sits next to him)
Free ones.
MUNNY
Free ones?
DELILAH
Alice and Silky have been giving them free ones.
MUNNY
I see.
(She straightens her jacket like an awkwards schoolgirl. Finally she turns to MUNNY and asks him,
in a tone much like that of a girl asking a man to her first Sadie Hawkins dance)
DELILAH
Would you like a free one?
MUNNY
(He looks at her)
No, I uh, I guess not.
DELILAH
(She is momentarily crushed but quickly tries to regain her composure.)
I, uh, I didn't mean with me. I meant that Alice and Silky would be
happy to give you a free one if you wanted one.
(She stands up quickly and starts to poke the fire)
That's all I meant.
MUNNY
Oh, I didn't mean I didn't want a free one on account of you
being cut up and all.
(She pulls on her bonnet and begins to tie it)
What I said the other day about you looking like me, that ain't true.
You ain't ugly like me. It's just that we've both got scars. But you're a
beautiful woman, and if I was to want a free one I'd want it with you,
I guess, more than them other two. It's just that I...I can't on account of
my wife.
(As MUNNY spoke DELILAH'S face had begun to change. First she is hurt, then sad, finally
she softens. At the mention of Munny's wife she stands and turns to look at him)
DELILAH
Your wife?
MUNNY
Yeah. You see....
DELILAH
(She nods)
I admire you for that, for being true to your wife and all.
I've known a lot of men.... who weren't.
MUNNY
Yeah, I suppose.
DELILAH
Is.... is she back in Kansas.
MUNNY
Yeah. Yeah, she's watching over my young ones.
EXT DAY --
(Various cowhands from the Bar-T are branding cattle. Three cowboys are holding down a calf
while others circle around watching.)
COWBOY 1
Hang on, Slim! Hang on!
COWBOY 2
Get the damn iron!
(The calf kicks out suddenly shaking the cowboys loose and struggling to it's feet meaning to
escape.The cowboys begin to shout at DAVEY, who is on horseback, to catch the calf.)
COWBOYS
Davey! Go on, get him! Go! Go!
(Davey rides off in persuit of the calf along the base of a high plateau. Suddenly there is a shot
and DAVEY'S horse falls to the ground on top of him. The cowboys stare at him in shock.)
DAVEY
Jesus Fellas!
(The cowboys look about bewildered, frantically searching the surrounding plateaus. Suddenly,
as if a on cue, they all begin to run for cover)
DAVEY
Jesus, boys. My leg's broke!
(The cowboys begin to shoot randomly at the rocks above.)
EXT DAY --- same place but on top of a plateau where MUNNY, KID, and NED sit. NED
has his spencer rifle out and is aiming furtively at DAVEY)
DAVEY (OS)
I'm pinned, boys!
JOHNNY (OS)
They're over on them there rocks!
MUNNY
Better finish him, Ned.
KID
He ain't dead? You didn't get him?
MUNNY
He got the boys horse. Better finish him before he gets clear.
EXT DAY ---
Focus on DAVEY who is struggling beneath his horse, then on the various cowboys.
COWBOYS
Get behind them rocks, Davey-boy! Get over there, Davey.
_CUT TO_
NED, MUNNY, and KID
KID
What happened? He ain't killed? What's going on?
MUNNY
He gets in those rock, we ain't going to get him, unless we go down there.
KID
What rocks? Why don't you shoot? What's going on, Ned?
(Below them the cowboys are yelling back and forth. Three shots are fired.)
KID
Well, ain't ya gonna shoot?
(NED points the gun but can't fire. MUNNY stares at him. Finally, NED lowers the rifle and
looks at MUNNY)
NED
Will..... Will, I...
(MUNNY takes the rifle from NED and prepares to fire)
MUNNY
I ain't very good with one of thses.
(MUNNY fires once and we see his bullet hit the ground near DAVEY who is dragging
himself toward the rocks. Meanwhile the cowboys are shouting for DAVEY to get out of
the line of fire)
KID
Did you get him? Will, where is he?
MUNNY
(to NED)
How many more shots do I have?
(no answer)
Ned, god damnit, how many more shots do I have?
NED
(quietly)
Two.
(He aims the rifle slowly and fires. Again we see the bullet narrowly miss DAVEY. He is
almost clear. His friends are shouting for him to hurry.)
KID
Did you get him?
(MUNNY ignores him and cocks the rifle. He aims carefully knowing that this is
his last chance. We see a closeup of DAVEY. He, too, knows that the end is coming
one way or another. We see the fear in him. MUNNY takes his time and finally squeezes
off the last shot. He hear a hollow thud and then a moan from DAVEY and we know that
MUNNY has hit his mark.)
(MUNNY lowers the rifle slowly. From his vantage point we can see DAVEY'S legs slowly
kicking out in slow agony. They are all we can see of DAVEY, however, as the rest of him is
obscured behid a large rock. We now see how close he came to surviving.)
MUNNY
(Hands rifle to KID)
Here. Reload this.
KID
You missed him!
MUNNY
I got him.
DAVEY
They shot me, boys!
KID
He ain't killed.
MUNNY
Maybe. Maybe not. Got him through the gut, I think.
KID
You think he's gonna die? You think we killed him?
MUNNY
(after a pause)
Yeah. We killed him, I guess.
DAVEY
I'm dying boys!
KID
(Shouting)
Well, then you shouldn't have cut up no woman you assholes!
(Gunshots wiz past as the cowboys mark where the shout came from)
DAVEY
Jesus, I'm so thirsty! Slim! Slim, get me some water, please.
Please, Slim, I'm bleading.
MUNNY
Give him a drink of water, god damnit!
DAVEY
Get me a drink of water, Slim
MUNNY
Will you give him a drink of water for christ's sake, we ain't gonna shoot.
SLIM
You ain't gonna shoot?
MUNNY
No.
SLIM
Hold on, Davey boy. Here I come now.
Don't you shoot me, you bastard.
(SLIM reaches DAVEY and begin to pour water on his mouth. As the camera
comes around the rock we see DAVEY clutching his belly in agony.)
KID
They take him water?
MUNNY
Yeah.
SLIM
Jesus, Johnny they shot him.
(The cowboys continue to shout amongst one another with the occasional curse at
MUNNY, et. al. Meanwhile MUNNY is slowly flicking rocks about. NED stares
at him quietly.)
EXT DAY
(MUNNY, NED, and KID are riding across the valley.)
KID
When are we going to double back?
MUNNY
Oh, after a ways.
NED
Not me, I'm heading back down to Kansas.
MUNNY
We've got to kill the other one first. Look, Ned, with any luck
we'll find the other one by nightfall or in the morning. Then we can
shoot him and head on back with the money.
(NED stops and pull the rifle from it's holster)
NED
You want the Spencer, Will?
MUNNY
This ain't no time to quit, Ned.
KID
Yeah, you're going to loose your share, Ned.
MUNNY
Shut up!
NED
I'll see you, Will. So long., Kid.
(NED turns and begins riding away.)
MUNNY
NED!
(Rides after him)
Here.
(Hands the rifle to NED)
I ain't no good with that damn thing anyhow.
Me and the kid will head over to that ranch and when we find
him, we'll shoot him, and then we'll meet up with you and pick
up our money and all head south together.
NED
Suppose he don't go back to the ranch, Will.
MUNNY
Well, he ain't going to go into town, I figure he won't stay out in
the open country. No, he'll hole up at that ranch.
NED
Well, I ain't waiting. I'll look in on your young ones when I get back.
(He rides off)
MUNNY
Hey, Ned.
(NED stops and looks back)
Don't pay no attention to what the kid said about the money
and all. I'll bring your share. Kid's full of shit.
(NED rides away).
EXT DAY -- LITTLE BILL'S FARM
(ANDY rides quickly up and jumps off his horse. He runs towards the house calling to
LITTLE BILL)
ANDY
Little Bill!
(We see something fall from the roof behind him and then LITTLE BILL'S head hangs
over the ledge)
LITTLE BILL
I was just doing some repairs up here.
ANDY
They just killed one of them cowboys.
LITTLE BILL
Shit!
EXT NIGHT
(A group is gathered around a wagon bearing the body of Davey. In it are a number of the
cowboys from the Bar-T as well as LITTLE BILL and BEAUCHAMP)
COWBOY
And Parson said how he seen three men, right after sun-up, headed out east.
One was on a dun and the other was on a flea bitten grey, only he didn't know
what the third one was on. Could've been an appoloosa cause he was looking
right into the sun...
(The wagon pulls away)
FATTY
Bill, Amos says to ask you if the county's gonna pay for feed for all the horses
or not.
ANDY
Witherspoon says he won't sell us no more 30-30 shells without we pay.
BYSTANDER
Hell, use my dogs. Then the county's got to take responsibility.
LITTLE BILL
Don't worry about them horses, Fatty. You just get on out there to the Bar-T
and make sure that other cowboy stays put and don't expose himself, you hear.
FATTY
All right.
(With a nod from LITTLE BILL the crowd begins to disperse)
INT NIGHT -- ALICE'S ROOM
(ALICE, LITTLE SUE, SILKY, FAITH AND DELILAH are watching the gathering
through the window)
DELILAH
I didn't think they'd really do it.
ALICE
Did you think they come clear up from Kansas just to fuck us?
(She sits down on the bed and, taking up a deck of cards, begins dealing for herself and FAITH)
DELILAH
No but that kid, he's just a boy and the other one, Will, the nice one,
being so true to his wife and all ---
ALICE
Wife? He ain't got no wife!
DELILAH
Oh, yes he does. He said ---
ALICE
I told you he ain't got no wife. Not above ground anyways.
(There is silence for a moment and then something crashes through the window.
From outside comes shouts of "Murdering Whores!!!")
ALICE
(Running to the window and shouting at the crowd)
He had it coming! He had it coming for what he done! And the other one, too.
Both of them for what they done.
EXT NIGHT -- BIG WHISKEY
(A cowboy rides madly into town)
COWBOY
We got one! We got one of them bastards! We got one! We got one!
(approaches sheriffs office where LITTLE BILL is assembled with his mob of
deputies and cowboys)
COWBOY
We got one, sheriff. out by cow creek.
LITTLE BILL
Is he alive?
COWBOY
Hell yeah! A bunch of us boys from the Bar-T went out looking on account
of them killing one of our own and we come across this son-of-a-bitch on a roan
heading south.
LITTLE BILL
Did he admit it?
COWBOY
No, but I guess he will soon enough. He had a spencer rifle on him.
LITTLE BILL
Those cowboys messed him up?
COWBOY
A little bit, I guess.
LITTLE BILL
All right. Clyde, Andy, get on out there. See if you can find out what happened
to them other two fellas
EXT NIGHT -- BAR-T
(In the background we see a house with lights inside. Closer to us we see an outhouse surrounded
by low shrubbery. KID walks stealthly along the shrubs.)
KID
(Making quite noises in signal. As if in answer the door to
the outhouse comes open and we see a man stroll out casually buttoning his pants.
Behind KID we see MUNNY step into view.)
INT NIGHT -- BAR-T
(A number of the cowboys, including MIKE are sitting around a table. Some play cards, others
drink, others do nothing. FATTY and ANDY are also here. The door opens and the cowboy from
the outhouse enters)
COWBOY
Can you see anything out there, Buck?
BUCK
Well, yes I did. Seen about 200 fellas packing rifles. Got the place surrounded.
Said they want Quick Mike's ass. I said "How much?" They said "Five." I said
"Dollars?" they said "Cents." I said "Sold!"
MIKE
Well I ain't worrying cause I got me some protection.
(Looks at FATTY who is fast asleep)
EXT NIGHT -- BIG WHISKEY
(CLYDE and ANDY are leadig a posse into town. Between the group, hands tied behind his
back, is NED. They ride to the sheriffs office where LITTLE BILL greats them)
LITTLE BILL
He tell you where them other's is?
CLYDE
Nope
LITTLE BILL
Give 'em any names?
CLYDE
Nope. Didn't give us nothing but his own name. Ned Roundtree.
(ANDY throws the spencer rifle to LITTLE BILL)
LITTLE BILL
Bring him in. Well Ned, you'll want to tell me and Mr. Beauchamp
here all about your two villianous friends, I guess. I'll be glad to hear the
names and whereabouts of those two murderous son's of bitches.
(They all file into the sheriffs office)
EXT DAY -- BAR-T.
(Outside again. KID and MUNNY are awaiting the appearance of MIKE)
KID
Sure is ripe!
MUNNY
Yeah. Gonna get a lot riper.
KID
You think he's still in there?
MUNNY
Yeah, he's in there.
KID
Yeah, well he's holding onto his shit like it was money.
MUNNY
He's in there
KID
You'll tell me right off if you see him.
MUNNY
Yeah.
KID
You ain't gonna shoot him yourself.
MUNNY
You can shoot him.
INT DAY -- SHERIFF'S OFFICE
(NED is tied to the bars facing us. Behind him is LITTLE BILL who is whipping NED with a
bull-whip. BEAUCHAMP sits on the bench reading. ANDY and CHARLEY are also watching.
Each of them is becoming more and more disturbed with every blow LITTLE BILL lands on
NED.)
_CUT TO_
(Various places in town. Everyone can hear the crack of LITTLE BILL'S whip and all
are disturbed by it)
_CUT TO_
INT DAY -- SHERIFF'S OFFICE
(LITTLE BILL finally stops whipping NED. Now that NED is "softened" it is time for questioning)
LITTLE BILL
Now, Ned.Where did Mr. Quincy and, uh, what was the young feller's name?
NED
Elroy. Elroy Tate.
BEAUCHAMP
Sheriff. (Shakes his head and holds his pad out where LITTLE BILL can read it)
LITTLE BILL
No. No, that's not what you said.
NED
Hell if it aint
LITTLE BILL
No, you said Elroy Quincy out of Medicine Hat and Henry Tate out of Cheyanne.
NED
Hell if I did. Hell if I did.
LITTLE BILL
Charley, go over and get them whores that fucked these guys the night of the storm.
CHARLEY
Strawberry Alice and Silky?
LITTLE BILL
Yeah. Go on.
(Comes close behind NED as if to whisper in his ear)
Now Ned, them whores are going to tell different lies than you. And when their lies
aint the same as your lies...... well I ain't gonna hurt no woman, but I'm gonna hurt you,
and not gentle like before, but bad.
EXT DAY -- BAR-T
(The same group from last night is now playing cards around the table)
MIKE
(Throws down cards and get's up)
Where are you going.
FATTY
Let me finish this hand.
MIKE
What, are you going to protect me while I take a dump?
COWBOY
Don't get bushwacked.
MIKE
Well, I'll fart on them.
THIRSTY
Let me go with you.
MIKE
Yeah, you can wipe my ass, Thirsty.
THIRSTY
Too hell with him. The man ain't polite he oughtta get shot.
(MIKE exits and walks to the outhouse. He does not see KID and MUNNY hiding in the bushes.)
KID
Is that him?
MUNNY
Yeah, that's him. All right, Kid. Go get him, he's all yours.
(Kid goes quietly to the outhouse. He flings open the first door but the stall is empty. At this moment
FATTY comes out of the house and spots KID)
FATTY
Assassians!
(MUNNY shoots at him but missed shooting out the window instead. Inside the cowboys duck for
cover)
MUNNY
Shoot him!
(KID opens the next door and takes a long look at MIKE who is sitting there. KID raises his pistol)
MIKE
No! No!
(KID shoots MIKE three times in rapid succession. Meanwhile MUNNY has begun shooting at
the house in an attempt to keep the cowboys indoors.)
MUNNY
Come on, god damnit!
(KID and MUNNY run back into the bushes. The cowboys come out of the house with FATTY in
the lead. They run to the outhouse and, seeing that MIKE is dead, continue on after KID and
MUNNY)
EXT DAY --
(KID and MUNNY are running through the woods towards their horses. MUNNY is re-loading his
gun as he goes)
MUNNY
Did you get him?
KID
Yeah.
(KID mounts his horse easily while MUNNY struggles with his. He hands his rifle to KID)
MUNNY
Cover me.
KID
I can't see 'em
MUNNY
Just shoot, damn ya.
(KID begins shooting randomly as MUNNY finally gets on his horse. The pair ride off as with the
cowboys shooting at them.)
EXT DAY -- UNDER A TREE
(MUNNY and KID await thier reward. MUNNY is standing surveying the landscape while KID
sits against the tree drinking from a bottle of whiskey. In the distance we see a rider approaching.)
KID
Was that what it was like in the old days, Will? Everybody riding out shooting,
smoke all over the place, folks yelling, bullets wizzing by?
MUNNY
I guess so.
KID
Shit. I thought they was going to get us. I was even scared a little. Just for a minute.
Was you ever scared in them days?
MUNNY
I can't remember. I was drunk most of the time.
KID
I shot that fucker three times. He was taking a shit and he went for his pistol and
I blazed away. First shot... I got him right in the chest. Say, Will...
MUNNY
Yeah,
KID
That was the first one.
MUNNY
First one what?
KID
First one I ever killed.
MUNNY
Yeah?
KID
You know how I said I shot five men? It weren't true. That mexican that
come at me with a knife, I just busted his leg with a shovel. I didn't kill him neither.
MUNNY
Well, you sure killed the hell out of that fella today.
KID
Hell ya!
(Drinks, on the verge of tears)
I killed the hell out of him, didn't I. Three shots and he was taking a shit!
MUNNY
(Looking at him)
Take a drink, Kid.
KID
(Drinks)
Jesus Christ. It don't seem real. How he ain't gonna never breathe again, ever. And the
other one, too. All on accoiunt of pulling a trigger.
MUNNY
It's a hell of a thing , killing a man. You take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna
have.
KID
Yeah. Well, I guess they had it coming.
MUNNY
We all have it coming, kid.
(KATE rides up on a horse)
MUNNY
I was watching you, seeing that you wasn't followed.
KATE
Silky and Faith, they rode off to the east and two deputies was following them.
(She hands a bag to MUNNY who turns and holds it out to KID)
MUNNY
Here. Want to help me count this stuff?
KID
I trust you, Will.
MUNNY
Well don't go trusting me too much. In fact, we'll give Ned his share together that
way you'll know I ain't holding out on ya.
KATE
(Confused)
Ned's share?
MUNNY
Yeah. He went south, we'll catch up to him.
KATE
Ned..... He's dead.
(Both MUNNY and KID stand)
MUNNY
What do you mean he's dead? He went south yesterday. He ain't dead.
KATE
They.... they killed him. I thought you knew that.
MUNNY
Nobody killed Ned. He didn't kill anyone. He went south yesterday.
Why would anybody kill Ned? Who killed him?
KATE
Little Bill. The Bar-T boys caught him and Little Bill, he beat him up. He was making
him answer questions and beating him up and then Ned just died. They got a sign on him
saying he was a killer.
MUNNY
They got a sign on him!
KATE
In front of Greely's
MUNNY
A sign on him in front of Greely's.
(She nods)
These questions Little Bill was asking, what kind were they?
KATE
Uh... About where you and him was.
MUNNY
Then what?
KATE
A cowboy come in saying you killed Quick Mike in a shithouse at the Bar-T.
MUNNY
So Little Bill killed him for what we done.
KATE
Not on purpose, but he started hurting him worse, making him tell stuff.
First Ned wouldn't say nothing, and then Little Bill hurt him so bad and he said
who you was. He said how you was really William Munny out of Missouri and
Little Bill said "The same William Munny that dynamited the Rock Island
and Pacific in '69 killing women and children and all" and Ned said you done
worse than that. Said you was more cold blooded than William Bonney and how,
if he hurt Ned again, you was going to come kill him like you killed a U.S. Marshall in '70.
(As she talked MUNNY has begun to drink slowly from the bottle of whiskey.It is as if his past
is coming back to him and with it all his old habits)
MUNNY
But that didn't scare Little Bill, did it?
KATE
No sir.
(He corks the bottle and throws it to the ground. He turns to KID who has been watching in
amazement)
MUNNY
Give me your Schofield.
KID
What for, Will?
MUNNY
Give it to me.
KID
(Scared)
Yeah, sure.
(Hands the gun to MUNNY who checks it)
You go on, keep it. I'm never going to use it again. I don't kill nobody no more.
I ain't like you, Will.
MUNNY
You'd better ride on back, Miss.
(She rides off)
KID
(Motions towards bag)
Go on, keep it. All of it, It's yours.
MUNNY
What about your spectecles and fancy clothes?
KID
I guess I'd rather be blind and ragged than dead.
MUNNY
You don't have to worry, Kid. I ain't going to kill you, you're the only friend I got.
EXT NIGHT -- BIG WHISKEY
(It is raining. KID and MUNNY ride into town.They are parting company. MUNNY is holding the
bottle and the bag. He hands the latter to KID)
MUNNY
Take this money and give my half and Ned's half to my kids.
Tell 'em If I ain't back in a week they're to
give half to Sally Two Trees. You keep the rest, you can get them
spectecles now.
KID
You're going to kill Little Bill, ain't ya.
MUNNY
You stay clear of folks you see. There'll be a lot of them out to hang you. Get going.
(KID rides away leaving MUNNY to his destiny. He rides towards Greely's. On the way we see
him drop the now empty bottle in the street. As he approaches the bar we see NED in a coffin with
a torch on either side and a sign across it saying "This is what happens to assasians around here".
From inside we can hear LITTLE BILL talking to his men.)
LITTLE BILL
O.S.
All right, boys, settle down now. I want you to settle down. I got something to say to you.
Settle down. I want to tell you something. All right, I'm going to say this just one more time
to make it clear, so don't ask me again. Those of you who posseed with me today have got
one drink coming from the county budget. (Cheers)
INT NIGHT -- GREELY'S
(LITTLE BILL is standing on the stairs orating to his men. Behind him stand ALICE, LITTLE SUE,
FAITH, and SILKY.)
LITTLE BILL
And those of you who rode with me yesterday, you get one drink for that too.
(more cheers)
Now, hold it! Now that's two but after that it comes out of your own pocket, you hear me,
Skinny.
SKINNY
Yes, sir.
LITTLE BILL
Allright.We're pulling out early in the morning. We're going to chase these fellas clear down
to Texas only don't spend too much of your own money.
(There is laughter all around and no-one notices MUNNY enter the bar. He raises his shotgun)
LITTLE BILL
We'll devide up into four parties and we'll hit all the farms and the trails and we'll make a
big circle....
(At this point BEAUCHAMP has seen MUNNY and begun backing away. A moment later ALICE
see's him as well)
LITTLE BILL
.... We're bound to run into somebody that's seen these
(pistol cocks)
skunks.
(LITTLE BILL turns to see MUNNY, gun raised, looking at him. Everyone else looks as well. There
is a tense moment where the only sound is the thunder outside then MUNNY levels the rifle.)
MUNNY
Who's the fella that owns this shithole? You. (Motions towards FATTY)
Fat man, speak up.
SKINNY
Uh, I own this establisment. Bought it from Greely for a thousand dollars.
MUNNY
(Motions to crowd around SKINNY)
MUNNY
You'd better clear out of there
(Aims rifle at SKINNY)
GROUP
Yes sir
(They all move away)
LITTLE BILL
Just hold it right there. Hold it.
(MUNNY shoots SKINNY, killing him instantly)
LITTLE BILL
Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch. You just shot an un-armed man.
MUNNY
Well, he should have armed himself if he was going to decorate his saloon with my friend.
LITTLE BILL
You'd be William Munny out of Missouri. Killer of women and children.
MUNNY
That's right. I've killed just about anything that walked or crawled at one time or another,
and I'm here to kill you, Little Bill, for what you did to Ned.
(to crowd)
You boys better move away.
(They do)
LITTLE BILL
All right, gentlemen, he's got one barrel left. When he fires that take out your pistols and
shoot him down like the mangy scoundrel he is.
(The crowd watches as fear has them transfixed watching the test of wills between MUNNY and
LITTLE BILL plays out. After a long silence MUNNY pulls the trigger but all we hear is a dry click)
LITTLE BILL
Mis-fire! Kill the son of a bitch!
(reaches for his pistol)
(MUNNY throws the rifle at LITTLE BILL and pulls the Schofield from his belt. He shoots
LITTLE BILL in the gut knocking him to the floor. He quickly turns and begins to cut down
the deputies. CLYDE is first, shot trying to draw his pistol. ANDY and FATTY have begun firing
but MUNNY shoots them next. ANDY is thrown backwards while FATTY runs for the door.
CHARLIE thinks likewise and heads out the rear of the saloon. FATTY isn't so lucky. He runs
towards the front door which means he must cross the path of MUNNY where he is shot in the
chest. After he falls to the floor there is a lull in the shooting. MUNNY rises from where he has
been crouched and begins walking across the bar toward the group of men cowering by the bar.)
MUNNY
(Pointing pistol at them)
Any man don't want to get killed better clear on out the back.
(MUNNY watches the remaining ocupants of the bar walk quickly out the back door and then
he walks to the bar. There he picks up a bottle of whiskey and, uncorking it, pours himself a glass.
He hasn't taken more than a sip when he hears the sound of someone struggling behind him. He
turns raising his pistol and we see BEAUCHAMP pushing the body of FATTY off of him.)
BEAUCHAMP
(Seeing blood on his shirt)
I'm shot! I've been shot!
MUNNY
You ain't shot.
BEAUCHAMP
Please.
(MUNNY cocks his pistol)
I don't have a gun. I am not armed.
MUNNY
Pick up that rifle.
(BEAUCHAMP looks at the weapon but makes no motion)
Pick it up!
(BEAUCHAMP picks up the rifle awkwardly)
MUNNY
Shells, too,
(BEAUCHAMP does this. MUNNY walks forward and takes the rifle and shells
from BEAUCHAMP)
BEAUCHAMP
(Wiping his brow)
Oh God!
(He sees LITTLE BILL lying on the floor)
You killed Little Bill.
MUNNY
(Points the gun at him)
Sure you ain't armed.
BEAUCHAMP
(raising his hands in surrender)
No. Look, I'm not. I don't have a gun. I've never had a gun. I write. I'm a writer.
MUNNY
(Begins re-loading the rifle)
A writer?
BEAUCHAMP
Yes.
MUNNY
Letters and such?
BEAUCHAMP
No, Books.
MUNNY
Books.
BEAUCHAMP
You..... you killed five men single-handed.
MUNNY
Yeah.
BEAUCHAMP
Uh.... That's a spencer rifle, right.
MUNNY
That's right.
BEAUCHAMP
(picking up his bag and slinging it over his shoulder)
Who, uh... Who'd you kill first?
MUNNY
Huh?
BEAUCHAMP
When confronted by superior numbers an experienced gunfighter will always fire on
the best shot first.
MUNNY
Is that so.
BEAUCHAMP
Yeah, Little Bill told me that. You probably killed him first, didn't you?
MUNNY
I was lucky in the order, but I've always been lucky when it comes to killing folks.
BEAUCHAMP
And so... who was next? It was Clyde, right? It must have been Clyde.
Well, it could have been deputy Andy.
(We see LITTLE BILL move his arm)
MUNNY
All I can tell you is who's going to be last.
(He levels the rifle at BEAUCHAMP who quickly heads for the front door. MUNNY watches him
go and then turns to the bar and finished his drink. Behind him LITTLE BILL has picked up his pistol
and is raising it. MUNNY hears the pistol cock and turns quickly. Seeing LITTLE BILL he steps on
his gun arm forcing it to the ground. This causes the pistol to fire. At the same time he brings his rifle
down and levels it point blank on LITTLE BILL's head. LITTLE BILL exhales slowly.)
LITTLE BILL
I don't deserve this. To die like this. I was building a house.
MUNNY
Deserve's got nothing to do with it.
LITTLE BILL
I'll see you in hell, William Munny.
MUNNY
(Cocks rifle)
Yeah.
(MUNNY aims the rifle slowly and shoots LITTLE BILL. He quickly turns and heads towards the
door. Onn the way he passes CLYDE who is still alive and has begun to moan. Without breaking
stride MUNNY shoots him. He opens one side of the door and kneels behind the closed side. He
cocks his gun and begins to yell.)
MUNNY
All right, I'm coming out. Any man I see out there I'm gonna kill him. Any son of a bitch
takes a shot at me, I'm not only going to kill him, I'm going to kill his wife and all his friends
and burn his damn house down.
(He stands and walks cautiously out of the bar)
Nobody better shoot.
(He pauses and looks at NED one last time then walks on. Hiding behind a fence we see
CHARLEY and another man.)
CITIZEN
Go ahead, Charley, shoot him.
(Charley raises his rifle at MUNNY who is is walking to his horse but he is ultimately afraid to shoot.
He hands the rifle to his companion who refuses the offer)
CHARLEY
Here!
CITIZEN
Hell no! I ain't no deputy.
(BEAUCHAMP pushes his way between the two of them to get a better look at the departing
MUNNY)
(MUNNY gets on his horse right away, for the first time, and turns to leave. BEAUCHAMP has
come into the street and he is putting on his glasses. MUNNY rides to the front of the bar and then
begins to yell.)
MUNNY
You better bury Ned right. You better not cut up nor otherwise harm no whores.
(The women begin to come out to see him leave)
Or I'll come back and kill every one of you son's of bitches.
(MUNNY rides fout of town past the growing crowd of people. We see DELILAH especially
watching him leave with a look of combined love, respect, and fear on her face).
EXT NIGHT -- WILLIAM MUNNY'S FARM
(We see the sillouett of MUNNY walking towards the grave of Claudia. The sun is setting. Over
the scene crawls:)
Some years later, Mrs. Ansonia Feathers made the arduous journey to Hodgeman County
to visit the last resting place of her only daughter.
Willaim Munny has long since disappeared with the children.... some said to San Fransisco
where it was rumored he prospered in dry goods.
And there was nothing on the marker to explain to Mrs. Feathers why her only daughter had
married a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously viscious and intemperate disposition.
(Close on the MUNNY'S FARM. Same scene now minus any sign of inhabitance.)
THE END.
WRITTEN BY DAVID WEBB PEOPLES
