Screenplay

FADE IN:

EXT. DESERT- DAY

Tom Waits- "Clap Hands"
The desert winds are blowing what growth exists. Cacti stand
their ground. There is nothing for miles.
A patch of tumbleweeds flitter in the bluster, one breaking
free from the other and starting a journey. It is stopped
before it makes any headway by a plodding pair of BOOTS. The
boots kick it aside and continue forward. They are followed
by the stumbling, boot-and-spur clad feet of two others.
As the three pairs stumble forward and away from us, we
begin to see their masters. The first, DAN, seems
independent from the others, out in front, leading them
forward. He’s tall and dark-skinned with a squint.
Following behind him is TOM, following Dan step by step, but
not lacking confidence. He’s packing a pistol, and unlike
DAN he’s sweating.
In the rear is Lefty, shorter than the other two, more prone
to stumbling over the rough terrain, and more observant of
their surroundings. He scours the land with his eyes as if
he’s afraid of missing something.
All of them are outfitted in classic western wear, with a
few unsual quirks. The odd world they are a part of is a
desolate, achingly empty place that seems endless. Landmarks
are bizarrely shaped, sometimes shockingly colorful, and a
step out of time and place. Dreamlike.
The three of them walk into the desert until the music
fades.
They come to a landmark, a pile of boulders and stones with
obscenities graffitied all over it. Dan stops to admire the
structure with disdain, surveys the area, and decides to
rest. He leans against the structure wearily, takes off his
hat, and scratches his head vigorously as his traveling
companions catch up to him.
Lefty picks up his pace and tries to look to see what Dan
might be seeing. Noting. He sits against the rocks,
uncomfortably. Comparatively, Tom slows his gait and stops
behind Dan to have a cigarette. They’re quiet as they
observe the landscape or lack thereof.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.

DAN:
You’d think there’d be more of
them, out here.
Tom struggles to light his cigarette with a match and fails.
He gets out another one. Dan notices his struggle and takes
the cigarette out of his mouth and the matches in his own
hand, gives Tom a reproachful look, and easily lights up.
He takes a quick puff and hands the cigarette back to Tom.
DAN:
Fire doesn’t take too kindly to the
wind, Tom.
Tom makes a face as Dan turns away. Dan looks down at Lefty.
DAN:
Tired, Lefty?
LEFTY:
Not so much. I’m just kinda...
wonderin’.
TOM:
That’ll getcha nowhere.
DAN:
What about?
LEFTY:
Oh, just... how we know we’re going
the right way is all. No compass or
anythin’.
TOM:
Oh, you know we don’t need one of
those, Lefty. Not when we’ve got
Dan here. Man practically is the
north pole.
Lefty laughs gratefully, Dan ignores them and continues
looking over the scene.
LEFTY:
I just don’t know, though, how we
know if we... if we ain’t going
around in a big circle, know what I
mean? I don’t know how we can find
anything, let alone that little
girl, if we keep going like this.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

TOM:
What, Lefty, you miss town?
LEFTY:
Which one?
DAN:
It matter? They’re all the same.
You been to one you been in all of
’em.
TOM:
Kinda like a whore.
DAN:
Shut up, Tom. (to Lefty) You know
it’s better bein’ out here than in
town. Land doesn’t lie.
LEFTY:
Guess not.
TOM:
Lefty’s just afeared you’re leading
us in circles, Dan, isn’t that
right?
DAN:
I don’t know where we’re going
anymoren’ you do- but I know where
we been. An I know we’re getting
closer all the time.
LEFTY:
I just-
DAN:
You’re always just something. Let’s
get goin.
TOM:
I ain’t finished my smoke yet.
DAN:
You think THEY rest for smokes?
TOM:
I wouldn’t know...
His words are defiant but his tone is somewhat sheepish.
Dan sets out and Lefty immediately gets up to follow him.
Tom does the best he can with his cigarette and finally
tosses it.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

As his voiceover happens we see the three of them traveling,

in character.
TOM:(VO)
I don’t know how long we’ve been at
this, but it’s for as long as I can
recall. We’re explorers without the
fun, cause there’s really nothin’
here to explore. Everything in
these parts is half-dead, or
waiting. That’s why we’re lookin’,
I guess, looking for her.

FLASHBACK
Through a stylistic screen gazes a girl, young and pretty
with the sun behind her, smiling in a silent-film star
fashion. She looks up abruptly as if she’d heard a noise.

EXT. DESERT- DAY CONT’D

TOM:(VO CONT’D)
Have been ever since we got here-
searchin, that is- and she keeps
seemin’ farther and farther away.
Lefty distracts himself momentarily by chasing after
tumbleweed and squashing it violently.
TOM:(VO ’D)
...Kinda like our minds. That’s
what I’m kinda afraid of- if we
don’t find this little girl lost
one of these days, soon, it doesn’t
bode real well for what’s left of
us. Mind’s really all a fella’s got
left to lose out here.
Tom is watching Dan intensely as they all mosey on, trying
to ignore Lefty’s playful outburst. Dan’s mouth twitches
with amusement but he doesn’t slow down.

EXT. DESERT- NIGHT

Lefty is lagging behind Dan and Tom again, watching the
desert as it grows darker. He turns his attention to his
companions.
Dan and Tom, walking side by side now, are coming to a slow
as they watch the sinking sun.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.

TOM:
Think that’s good enough for today,
man?
DAN:
Naw. But I know if you two don’t
get some shut-eye you’re gonna be
griping all the way.
TOM:
Yeah, and you’re always a ray of
sunshine.
DAN:
Just don’t bitch in your sleep,
Tim.
TOM:
It’s Tom.
DAN:
Is it?
Lefty is still in the distance, he calls to them
LEFTY:
We stopping?
TOM:
For tonight, yeah.
DAN:
Funny man.
TOM:
Nah, you want funny, Don...
DAN:
It’s Dan.
TOM:
Oh.. well, yeah. You want funny,
I’ll tell you one.
DAN:
Please no.
TOM:
Nah, Lefty wants to hear it, don’t
you, Lefty?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.

LEFTY:
Don’t I what?
TOM:
Wanna hear a joke?
LEFTY:
Uh, sure-
TOM:
Course you do...
Dan stars to walk away, shaking his head.

EXT. SAME SPOT- LATER

The three cowboys have arranged a camp of sorts, with large
rocks for pillows and a tiny fire, protected by more rocks,
for warmth. Dan and Lefty are lounging, as much as they can,
as Tom pokes the fire. Dan’s hat is over most of his face
and he looks at Tom with entertained annoyance. At last he
lets the hat slip over the rest of his face as Tom blathers
on.
DAN: (VO)
We close our eyes, but none of us
ever sleep. I never do. You can’t
in these parts. You know you gotta
keep goin’, so there’s no point.
you just gotta keep goin’ no matter
what it takes.
Tom’s voice slowly becomes distinguishable.
TOM:
So finally he finishes up and comes
down and asks the cowboy what he
thinks of it all. And the cowboy,
he ah, he thinks for a minute, then
he says "You know... I’m not real
smart, but if I went to feed my
cattle and only one showed, I sure
wouldn’t feed him all the hay!"
Tom laughs and slaps his knee. Lefty chuckles. Dan snorts,
and Tom looks at him in judgement.
TOM:
Oh get over it.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.

Lefty smiles, in a good mood. He then seems to remember

something and reaches out for a rock with a sharp edge. He
quickly takes it to the bottom of his boot, makes a mark,
and seems satisfied. He looks over the fire at Dan.
LEFTY:
Hey, Dillon-
DAN:
It’s Dan, you know that.
LEFTY:
Yeah. Can I see again?
DAN:
The blue? Man, it’s not a blankie.
LEFTY:
I.. I know it ain’t. Just wanted to
see it is all.
Dan sighs and produces a folded blue cloth from his pocket
and hands it to Tom, who studies it briefly over the fire
before handing it off to Lefty, who takes it greedily and
closely examines it. Tom rolls his eyes, does his best to
dim the fire, and goes to settle down.
TOM:
Take it easy, cowboys.
Lefty and Dan are quiet for a few minutes until
LEFTY:
You don’t sleep much, do you?
DAN:
Do you?
LEFTY:
No. I just wondered. I wonder... if
we’d sleep better. If there were
ever any light. Sometimes I still
look up for it but nothing’s there.
Just the sun in the morning.
DAN:
You talkin about the stars?
LEFTY:
Well, that, and the moon. I haven’t
seen the moon... since we been
searching. I forget what it looks
like.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.

DAN:
I haven’t thought about that in a
long time. I guess that’s part of
it all.
LEFTY:
Part of what?
DAN:
I don’t know. Searching?
LEFTY:
Maybe. Sure would like to see the
moon again.
DAN:
Well. Maybe you will. I couldn’t
say. Now, take it easy, Cheifie,
alright?
Lefty falls silent, touching the fabric between his fingers
and staring up at the empty, totally black sky. Dan peers
out from under his hat at Lefty, then at Tom.
DAN: (VO)
It’s hard to look at the world as
it is, or as it was. every time i
start to lag i just think of her,
taken away by god knows who or
what, innocent... and.. whatnot, I
can’t even rest. we’ve been at this
for all time and we’ll be at it for
ten times that if we have to. she’s
still out there. unfound. lost.i
can’t take it easy.
He settles back, rearranges himself, and lets his hat fall
over his face again for good.
DAN: (VO)
We close our eyes, but none of us
ever sleep. I never do. You can’t
in these parts. You know you gotta
keep goin’, so there’s no point.
You just gotta keep goin’.

EXT. DESERT- DAY

It’s midafternoon, or so one presumes, and the three of them
are trudging onward.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.

DAN:
We’re gettin closer, boys, I can
feel it.
TOM:
Uh huh.
DAN:
What’s that?
LEFTY:
Hey, Dan... I was just wondering...
DAN:
You been doing alot of that.
LEFTY:
Well, I was just wondering if you
think maybe she’s on her own now,
or if you think she’s with folk?
DAN:
I’m sure she’s probably with them
still... else I don’t know why she
wouldn’t be trying to find us.
LEFTY:
Oh... well, what if she was?
DAN:
Was what?
LEFTY:
Tryin’ to find us?
TOM:
Yeah, I hadn’t thought about that..
what then?
DAN:
I don’t know. Just gotta keep
looking.
LEFTY:
Well, that goes without saying,
but-
DAN:
Does it?
LEFTY:
Yeah, but-

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.

TOM:
What if there’s just more to all
this than you know? What if there’s
stuff we just didn’t figure on?
DAN:
(without turning to confront
them, soldiering on)
Where is this coming from? Why all
these questions? You think I’m
leading the two of you on some wild
goose chase? Pulling the wool over
your eyes? There’s no wool to pull,
you lunkheads. There’s no eyes,
either, while we’re at it. You know
why I’m always pushing on? It’s not
cause I know the way, dumbshit,
it’s cause I want to find her.
TOM:
But what do you know for a fact?
Dan stops briefly and looks over his shoulder with a scowl.
DAN:
NOTHING. Neither do you. I look at
the ground and all I can think
about are footprints that’ve been
blown over. Hand prints on the
rocks that could be hers
He starts to walk on.
DAN: (CONT’D)
They could all be hers, for all we
know, she could be everywhere and
we wouldn’t know! All we DO know is
that we gotta keep goin’ and-
LEFTY:
If we don’t? What happens if we
stop? Do we...?
DAN:
That’s no kinda question. The only
answer is that we don’t stop.
The two others fall silent and Lefty wears a look of shame
as he falls into Dan’s step. As they trudge and climb,
LEFTY: (VO)
I don’t know who she was, but all I
try to think about while we’re out
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.

LEFTY: (VO) (cont’d)

here is that she’s worth it. And I
know she is. She’s the only thing
that’s really worth thinking about.
That, and the others.
A town appears in the distance, and Dan points. The others
cheer at this slightly, and pick up their pace.
LEFTY: (VO CONT’D)
We been travelin’ together for so
long I think sometimes we can’t
tell each other apart. We’ve been
apart before. But not for long. We
always fall into the same step.
It’s the one thing that gives me
hope. Maybe I’m lookin’ for that
more than her... Not too long ago I
realized that I had forgotten her
name. I ain’t felt too good ever
since.
As they get closer to the town, they see a billowing cloud
of dust approach. They stand dead still and squint at it as
if it were an oncoming storm.
It is a tarnished truck.
It gets closer, swerving erratically across the dust and
finally slowing at the sight of the cowboys. It comes to a
stop right next to them, and as it eases into sight two
women are revealed inside.
One is delicate and pretty, behind the wheel, and the other
one is somewhat more unfortunate and plain-looking, sitting
with a birdcage on her lap. She sizes the cowboys up
cynically while the pretty one smiles over the birdcage.
PRETTY ONE:
Howdy.
Lefty smiles wide and waves slightly until he notices Tom
gazing at him with disapproval.
Dan walks closer to the truck.
DAN:
Where you ladies off to?
PRETTY ONE:
Anyplace that ain’t back there.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 12.

DAN:
Well, we just came from where
you’re goin’ and let me tell you
there ain’t nothing thattaway.
PLAIN GIRL:
That’s good. That’s what we’re
lookin for.
DAN:
Nothing?
PLAIN GIRL:
You could say that.
PRETTY ONE:
Don’t listen to her, she’s lyin’.
We’re out to get to the other side.
You been that far?
DAN:
Can’t say that... no, I’m not real
sure. Dunno if this thing’ll take
you that far, though, I’ll say
that.
PRETTY ONE:
You boys headed into town?
DAN:
Hoped to make it by sunset.
PRETTY ONE:
Oh, you don’t wanna be there at
night.
DAN:
No?
PRETTY ONE:
There ain’t hardly no one there...
it gets awful weird.
PLAIN GIRL:
Pay her no mind. It’s fine. It’s
just as empty there as it is out
here, though.
DAN:
All empty?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.

PLAIN GIRL:
Well. Depends on the day. You
lookin’ for someone?
DAN:
Who isn’t?
PLAIN GIRL:
Who you looking for?
DAN:
Girl..
PRETTY ONE:
Figures.
DAN:
She was taken away long time ago,
we been searching for what seems
alot longer than that. Here’s a
picture, you seen anyone who looks
like that?
PLAIN GIRL:
She’s pretty.
PRETTY ONE:
She ain’t bad.
DAN:
Seen her?
They look carefully at the picture, then each shake their
heads.
Dan sighs, looks back at the others.
PRETTY ONE:
You boys look beat.
PLAIN GIRL:
Cindy, we gotta-
PRETTY ONE:
Aw shut up. (to the cowboys) you
folks fancy some cookin’ fore you
go in there? Guarantee, you’ll be
hard pressed to find anything
halfway decent in there to eat.
PLAIN GIRL:
Just cause you swiped everything
was there.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.

PRETTY ONE:
So?
The cowboys look around.

EXT. DESERT- NIGHT

Lucille, the pretty one, is handing each of the cowboys a
plate of ill-looking grub which they seem to appreciate but
no one here really has that much of an appetite. Beatrice,
the plain one, is serving up the grub from a pot and keeping
a suspicious eye on everyone. It’s obvious that Tom and Dan
have a passing interest in Lucille as she persists in
talking to them.
LUCILLE:
You see, Beatrice is just a
spectac-u-lar cook, you know it?
DAN:
Ain’t bad.
TOM:
Nicely done, Beatrice.
Beatrice nods condescendingly and serves herself.
TOM:
So uh, what is it exactly that’s
drawing you two over the desert
here?
Lucille sighs as she picks at her food.
LUCILLE:
We’re tryin’ to bury our daddy.
LEFTY:
Y’all are sisters?
LUCILLE:
Well, we are sort of, but I guess
he’s really MY daddy. That’s what
I’m doin’. Beatrice is just helpin’
me out. You know?
TOM:
Burying your daddy?
LUCILLE:
Yeah... he’s been dead awhile now,
but we can’t seem to find the right
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 15.

LUCILLE: (cont’d)
place to bury him. And we gotta
find a preacher man to say the
words, too, you know, but we ain’t
been able to find one in towns
like.. like that one.
LEFTY:
How long you been lookin?
Lucille furrows her brow adorably, then shakes her head.
LUCILLE:
Y’know, I couldn’t say. I can’t be
that long now, but... I can’t
really remember when we started.
Isn’t that funny?
LEFTY:
How can you forget how long it’s
been?
LUCILLE:
Well, I’m sure I don’t know. How
long you been lookin’ for little
girl lost?
Lefty’s turn to furrow his brow. He’s quiet for a moment,
then holds up one of his boots. Etched all over it are
tallymarks. He crosses his feet and turns up the soul of his
other boot. Tallymarks all over that, also. He takes off his
hat and shows her the inside of it- tallymarks.
They look at each other seriously for a moment until
LUCILLE:
You don’t know either, do you?
Over at the other side of camp Beatrice is picking at her
own food, but looks up to see Tom cross by the fire and sit
beside her.
TOM:
So good I thought I’d have some
more.
BEATRICE
That’s gluttony.
TOM:
Are you always this disagreeable?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 16.

BEATRICE:
No, this is one of my nicer days.
TOM:
Oh, there’s a smile, I saw one.
BEATRICE:
Don’t flatter yourself. You don’t
see alot of people smilin’ around
here, do you?
TOM:
Guess not. Uh, now, correct me if
I’m wrong, here, but it uh, don’t
look like you’re too much in the
spirit of what Lucille there’s out
to do.
BEATRICE:
How do you mean?
TOM:
Buryin’ her daddy.
BEATRICE
Good guess then, it’s her daddy,
not mine. And he’s been rottin for
god knows how long.
TOM:
I don’t smell rot.
BEATRICE
His kinda rot don’t smell.
TOM:
I see.
BEATRICE
Will you look at her?
The two of them look over at Lucille talking with Dan and
Lefty.
TOM:
Can’t say I done much else since
you ladies came to a stop.
BEATRICE:
Precisely.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 17.

TOM:
Hm?
BEATRICE:
You may have noticed we don’t
exactly look like sisters.
TOM:
Ah, nah, I can-
BEATRICE:
We ain’t. Not by blood, I don’t
think.
TOM:
So.
BEATRICE:
So she’s always been beautiful and
innocent and always will be. So
that’s why I’m here. Lookin’ out
for her. Someone’s got to do it.
Into the dust and out of it, she’s
not one to go it alone.
TOM:
Well, until she finds someone.
BEATRICE:
She won’t. She loved her daddy.
That’s about it. And you know as
well as I that that sort of thing
doesn’t happen in these parts.
TOM:
Well, then you’ll find someone to
look after you.
BEATRICE:
Hardly, Mister. There are some that
are made to look after others and
some that are made to be looked
after. One look at me and you can
tell which one I was supposed to
be.
TOM:
Well. I guess that makes two of us.
Beatrice looks at him, puzzled.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 18.

BEATRICE:
You sure about that?
They share an uneasy moment as they look at oneanother
cautiously.
Lucille and Dan are still conversing while Lefty has taken a
depressed turn and is gazing into the little fire.
LUCILLE:
You know if you expect to find her
in town I think you’re pretty much
outta luck.. you’ll probably have
to go well past.
DAN:
We’ll see. Maybe so. I know we’re
gettin close, though. We gotta be.
Maybe we’ll find someone who knows.
LUCILLE:
Good luck. Can I see that picture
again?
Dan hands it over.
LUCILLE:
No... she doesn’t look familiar.
But you know, it’s probably been
awhile. She probably don’t look
like this anymore, poor thing.
DAN:
No.
LUCILLE:
Probably not.
She notices the fabric hanging out of Dan’s vest and reaches
over to seize it.
LUCILLE:
What’s this?
DAN:
That was hers. Er, was hers. Dress
she was wearing when they took her
away. Or that’s what they said.
We’ve found tatters of it here and
there. Or we did. Stopped findin’
them awhile-- what?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 19.

LUCILLE:
In town... there’s a woman with a
dress made out of this. It’s just
like this.
DAN:
Are you being straight with me?
LUCILLE:
Of course I am.
He grabs her arm.
DAN:
Are you bein’ straight with me?
LUCILLE:
I do not lie.
Lefty is looking up in shock and hope, he and Dan lock eyes
and Dan lets go of Lucille and calls out loudly
DAN:
TOM!

EXT. DESERT- NIGHT

The three cowboys finish quickly packing the women into the
truck.
DAN:
I’d advise you ladies sleep in here
for the night, if you plan on
sleepin’.
LUCILLE:
Oh, I don’t think sleepin’ is in
the cards for us tonight.
DAN:
Rest then. You can’t see a thing in
the desert with two broken
headlights.
LUCILLE:
Point taken.
On the passenger side of the truck hang Tom and Lefty. Lefty
looks sad to have to leave the women, even Beatrice. She’s
looking slyly, almost amused at the two cowboys.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 20.

BEATRICE:
You boys hear that? We’ll be here
till morning. Either of you change
your mind about that town, you
wanna go back, won’t take much to
catch up with us.
TOM:
You don’t change your mind about
something like this.
BEATRICE:
No. But we’ll be here till morning
anyway. (to Lefty) Hang in there.
Dan looks through the windows at his boys.
DAN:
Hey now, let’s go.
In the darkness, the three cowboys set off for town, no
longer one following the other but the three in time. The
air is tense around them and they don’t speak, just breath.
Tom tries to light up as he walks, but fails.
TOM:
Not a word.
LEFTY:
Tell us a joke, Terry.
TOM:
It’s Tom.
LEFTY:
That’s right. Tell us one.
TOM:
(all the while walking and
trying to light his cigarette)
Alright. Uhh... okay, you’ll like
this one, ah, so there’s this, uh,
this one Sunday that this cowboy
goes to church, and uh, when he
gets there, he realizes that he and
the preacher man were the only ones
present. So the preacher, he kinda
smiles, you know, and since there’s
just the two of them he asks if the
cowboy wants him to go ahead and
preach anyway. So the dude says,
"I’m not too smart, but if I went
to feed my cattle and only one
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 21.

TOM: (cont’d)
showed, I’d feed ’em". So the
preacher man preaches. He goes on
for an hour, then two hours, then
two and a half. Finally, he
finishes up and comes down and asks
the cowboy what he thinks of it
all. And the cowboy, he ah, he
thinks for a minute, then he says
"You know... I’m not real smart,
but if I went to feed my cattle and
only one showed, I sure wouldn’t
feed him all the hay."
Lefty laughs appreciatively, and Tom laughs at it himself.
Dan doesn’t say anything.
They stalk the town. "Lowside of the Road"- Tom Waits

EXT. TOWN- NIGHT

They wander cautiously into the entrance of town, a slum of
a ghost village. Not a soul in sight.
There are papers flying everywhere, clotheslines with dried
and dirty clothes barely hanging on them. Graffiti lines the
streets.
They search hither and yon. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing and no
one.
Tom becomes gradually agitated, and by the time the group
comes to a standstill in the middle of the street he’s worn
very thin. Lefty is sweating and desperate, examining every
spot he notices thoroughly. Dan is frustrated but cool-
alas, though, he can’t decide which way to go next.
TOM:
Okay, pilgrim, where to now?
DAN:
Somewhere. Gimme a minute.
TOM:
I said where to?
DAN:
I don’t KNOW, give me a minute.
TOM:
We’d really rather not.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 22.

LEFTY:
Oh, speak for yourself, Tom, you
don’t know anythin’.
TOM:
What’s that?
LEFTY:
Speak for yourself...
TOM:
Well aren’t we gettin’ ballsy these
days?
DAN:
SHUT UP.
TOM:
(tense warning in his voice)
I think it’s time someone else
started making some decisions
around here.
Dan still has his back to his two companions, but reaches to
his belt for his pistol.
Tom reaches for his.
TOM:
Now don’t be so hasty there-
Dan whirls around and cocks his gun at Tom before Tom can
move a muscle.
DAN:
Now. Are you gonna shut up or are
we gonna have a scene here?
Lefty’s eyes are like saucers.
Dan and Tom are staring intensely at each other until Dan’s
gaze wavers between Lefty and Tom to see directly down the
alley behind them. A girl wearing a blue dress is walking
across it.
Tom and Lefty immediately react to Dan’s expression and turn
to see her stepping out of sight. They take off running.
The chase is quick but tense, and they finally catch her by
rounding a corner and essentially fall onto her. Dan steps
back and grabs the shocked girl by the shoulders to examine
her dress and pulls out the patch in his jacket to compare.
It matches.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 23.

He hugs her close to him and Tom starts to laugh in anxious

relief. Lefty just breathes hard and stares at the girl. She
notices him and they share a look of significance.
DAN:
We found you, we found you.
After a few moments the girl begins to struggle.
GIRL:
Hey... look... here... what is
this?
She frees herself from Dan’s grip. Dan laughs and looks at
her cheerfully. He takes out the picture and shows it to
her.
DAN:
It’s you, there. We’ve been
searching for you all this time.
It’s gonna be OK. We’re gonna take
you back where you come from.
GIRL:
I come from here, mister. And that
ain’t me.
DAN:
Sure it is, you’re wearin’.. the
dress and everythin’.
Tom snatches the picture away and a look of horror crosses
his face as he compares the girl to the photo.

FLASHBACK
The girl in the same faded place, making faces at us or
herself, laughing.

EXT. TOWN- CON’T

TOM:
It ain’t her.
DAN:
Sure it is...
GIRL:
No. It ain’t. I’m sorry to
disappoint.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 24.

DAN:
Well if it ain’t you... what about
the dress? Where’d you get the
dress, then?
GIRL:
I uh, I don’t know.
DAN:
Yes you do. Where’d you get the
dress if that ain’t you?
GIRL:
I don’t know! I... someone found
it. Someone brung it to me, said
they found it out in the desert. I
think. That’s all I know. Said they
found it. That’s all I know!
Dan reaches out and grabs her shoulders as if he’s going to
crush her, but he just shakes her jerkily.
DAN:
You SWEAR?
GIRL:
I swear! I SWEAR! I’m SORRY!
LEFTY:
Let her go, Dan! Let her go!
Dan drops her, and she collects herself, looking at Lefty.
GIRL:
(softer this time)
I’m sorry.
She makes a few steps backward, then turns and begins to run
away.
They watch her go. The three of them are stunned.
DAN:
I don’t understand it.
TOM:
Oh, I do, you led us this far and
this is what happens.
DAN:
We were followin’ the trail. You
know as well as I. You know it. All
this time... she’s still out there.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 25.

TOM:
Yeah, back in the DESERT. Back the
OTHER WAY.
DAN:
We don’t know that. She still could
be here. Dressed different.
TOM:
Yeah, and now we got nothin to go
on! Great! Little girl lost is off
bein’ tortured somewheres and we’re
here chasing after little
thieves...
DAN:
Something like that... yeah...
LEFTY:
It’s almost morning...
TOM:
It’s almost morning! Hey! It’s
almost morning! They said they’d
wait until morning... come on, we
can high-tail it outta here with
them, come on...
DAN:
Tom, wait!
Tom takes off running for the town exit, excitably. Dan and
Lefty run in hot pursuit.

EXT. DESERT- DAY

The cowboys flee the city.
Tom runs out into the open desert just in time to see a puff
of dust vanish into the far distance- the truck is gone.
Exhausted, he runs after it a bit longer, then finally gives
up, stumbling to the ground and staring off over the plains
after his last hope.
As Dan and Lefty catch up to him, Tom springs up and attacks
Dan. The two struggle violently as Dan tries to reach for
his gun but it falls from both of their grips.
LEFTY:
STOP IT NOW!
Lefty is standing there with the gun in his hand.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 26.

DAN:
Aw now Lefty...
LEFTY:
I MEAN IT!
The two let go of each other and brush themselves off. Tom
is still wallowing in disappointment.
LEFTY:
I have... something I gotta tell
you. Both of you. Um. It ain’t....
easy.
Dan and Tom, breathing hard, just stare as Lefty’s
countenance changes before their eyes.
LEFTY:
It’s not... easy at all. I don’t
know how long ago it was. Not too
long ago. But maybe not. You
remember that time we took up with
that Squaw, over yonder? After
the... well I don’t remember what
it was after. It was before I
started tallying on my boots.
Remember the squaw woman?
DAN:
Yeah, Lefty, I remember the squaw
woman..
LEFTY:
Yeah... and you split for a spell,
cause you thought... I don’t know.
Well, we all split for one day.
Maybe not even that... it.. it
seemed like a day...
Lefty’s eyes start to tear up for a second as he blinks into
the dust that’s blowing into his face.
TOM:
However long it was. It wasn’t long
enough... Lefty would you just put
the gun down for a square second?
We can talk without the firearm.
You know it.
LEFTY:
I think I better hold onto it, Tom.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 27.

TOM:
Suit yourself.
LEFTY:
Anyway-- I-- wish you wouldn’t
innerrupt, I’m gettin... to the
point. We were all split up for a
little while. And I was in that big
canyon, you know. And I was
wonderin’ around all by my lonely,
and uh... I saw her.
TOM:
YOU SAW HER ALL THAT TIME AGO?
LEFTY:
I- yeah-- I told you this... wasn’t
gonna be easy.
DAN:
No shit! What the hell? Why in the
hellblazing tarnation hell didn’t
you say something before? Did they
have her?! Have we been followin’
em right?
LEFTY:
I uh, I told you...
The two cowboys move forward and Lefty brandishes the gun
some more. They stay put.
LEFTY:
This ain’t gonna go down easy. I
uh, I thought I saw her blue, you
know, and I was so happy...

FLASHBACK
Same style, as Lefty clambors down a short rocky trail to
the bottom of a canyon, blue in sight.
LEFTY:(VO)
I.. I just tore down to find her..
As he reaches the bottom he recoils in surprise
 28.

EXT. DESERT- DAY CONT’D

LEFTY:
And.. and she was... dead.

FLASHBACK
The girl is propped up against a rock, eyes open, dead.

EXT. DESERT- DAY

LEFTY:
I checked everything. I made sure
it was her. I shook her and
breathed on her and tried to get
her to wake up but she wouldn’t,
she was dead... I don’t know what
killed her but she was! So I
waited, you know, I waited for you
two, and then... I got to
thinking... what if... what if you
did come, what if we all saw her
like that... what would happen to
us? I mean, really? What... could
happen? I ain’t never been so
afraid. So... I... I started
draggin’ her. I didn’ know where.
But I drug her far away, and
started digging. I dug with a tree
branch, and then with my hands...
you remember how dirty my hands
were when you saw me again? I dug
it... and I put her in the ground.
I buried her in the ground.

FLASHBACK
Lefty pushing dirt into the girl’s grave, covering her open,
gloved hand.

EXT. DESERT- DAY

LEFTY:
I buried her.... and then tried to
forget. So we could keep lookin’.
So we could keep goin’.... but I
can’t anymore....
Lefty raises the gun and, sniffling, pulls the trigger on
himself.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 29.

Nothing. He makes a noise and pulls it again.

Nothing. There’s nothing in the gun.
Dan and Tom stare in awe. Dan looks blank and shocked and
Tom, more emotional, appears incredibly distraught. He sinks
to the ground and sits, feet out, knees up, and head in
hands. Dan takes off his hat.
Lefty continues to sniffle and click the gun.
Dan finally steps forward to take the gun from him, while
keeping his distance. He reclaims the pistol and puts it
where it belongs, not looking Lefty in the eye. The dust
seems to swirl around the three of them, enclosing them in a
cloud.
Lefty finally falls to his knees, gazing at the ground in
remorse. Dan paces for a moment, first towards the horizon,
then the town, then takes a stance between his two comrades.
They’re quiet for another moment, until
DAN:
Hey, Tom.
Tom barely looks up.
DAN:
How about a joke, cowpoke?
Tom grunts bitterly.
TOM:
I don’t think I know anymore.
DAN:
Come on. Betcha do.
Tom is silent, staring up at Dan, until a look of vague
acceptance crosses his face. Near-madness.
Dan gives him a look as if to say, well, what DO we do now,
anyway?
Tom starts to speak, his softness a defeat.
"Chocolate Jesus"-Tom Waits
TOM:
Well.. there’s this cowboy up and
uh.. goes to church one Sunday.
Except when he gets there, see, he
and the preacher man are the only
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 30.

TOM: (cont’d)
ones there. So the preacher, since
there’s just the two of them asks
if the cowboy wants him to go ahead
and preach anyhow. So the dude
says, "I’m not too smart, but if I
went to feed my cattle and only one
showed, I’d feed ’em". So the
preacher man preaches. He goes on
for an hour, then two hours, then
two and three. Finally, he finishes
up......
As Tom is telling his "joke" we take leave of the cowboys.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN.

FLASHBACK
The girl, same flashback style, turning to smile sweetly,
almost wickedly, at us.
Fade out.