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CASTING SIDES FOR “CALL OF JUAREZ”

REVEREND RAY
Oh Lord...It is on this Sabbath day, in this empty church, that I pray to thee.
What am I to do to not lose faith in the people of this town? Please, God,
give me the strength to lead these sinners to righteousness. Last night the
demons of my past visited me in a nightmare. What are you trying to tell me,
Lord? That the citizens of Hope are descending into darkness, just as I was
once, trapped in the shadows of Satan's embrace? I personally invited every
lost soul in town to today's service. I will bring them your word. I will show
them the way.

For twenty years I followed the light and denounced the darkness. Day in
and day out, I labored to save lost souls. All for you, Lord! So why have you
forsaken me? How could you let this happen? Help me, Lord! Please! Tell
me! What do you want from me?

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil; for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me... Let all
those who carry the mark of the beast cower in terror! For I will come for
them as I follow the murderer's trail. Are you there, Billy Candle? Are you
in there, you son of the Devil? I`m coming for you, and I bring hell unto
thee! Gunshots! I must hurry...

Oh, God...What did I do? Righteous men are dead because of my blindness
and arrogance. I killed Billy in your name too. Was I wrong, Lord? Was he
telling me truth? Was he innocent as well?
Thomas and I had a younger brother. William. He was the was best of us. A
man of faith. We were running cattle over the border from El Paso and
would spend time in a little cantina in San Lorenzo. That’s where I first laid
eyes on Marisa. I knew she belonged to Juarez, but I wanted her for mine.
Marisa had other ideas though. She was in love with Thomas. They ran off
together and I tracked them to these very caverns. Brother William begged
me to walk away, but I was crazy with greed. I wanted Marisa. I wanted the
gold. William got between me and Thomas and reached into his coat. I
thought he was going for a gun…so I shot him. My little brother. And as he
fell, I saw what he was reaching for. A bible. In that instant, I renounced evil
and embraced the word of God. We left the gold. We knew it was cursed.
And I dedicated my life to serving the Lord. I tried to make amends, but my
sins were too great. Anger, hate, pride, arrogance. Oh, Lord, I humbly accept
that the time has come for me to offer recompense for my transgressions.

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be
tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the
murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.

BILLY CANDLE

I'm Billy. Ma would never say who my father was, so... I don't got no last
name. She gave me this medallion before I could talk. It's engraved with a
candle stick, so that's what kid's called me. Candle. Beats spic or pepper gut.
Yeah, my Ma's from Mexico. The town I grew up in is just over the border
and the folks there are mostly white. Like my step-father. Thomas. A big,
mean son of a bitch who would just as soon backhand me as look at me.

Other then my stepfather, there are three sumbitch's in particular I hope to

avoid. Tim Powell, our sheriff - who always thought I was up to no
good…even when I wasn't. Clyde Forrester, owner of the Grand Saloon -
meanest peckerhead you've ever seen. And then there's the biggest bastard of
'em all...My stepfather's brother, Reverend Ray. The most self-righteous son
of a bitch who ever picked up a bible.

Gotta run. Don’t matter if I killed somebody or not - they'll hang me

anyway. I can hear the hound's... Jesus Christ, get a grip on yourself! Mexico
would be the safest bet, but...the road leads straight through Juarez. I'd have
to be crazy to go anywhere near that place. But wait, what about that mine
near Blackriver? A train passes right by there. I could jump on it and hitch a
ride to San Jose. Molly's there. The one person in the world I can trust.

Ray told me to run and maybe I should. I could take off with the gold and no
one would ever find me. Ray'll save the girl. He don't need me. Probably
better if I never see her again. Sure I'll be on the run, but this time I'll be
rich. So why am I still standing here. Maybe I'm just tired of running. Or
maybe it's time for me to stop being afraid. Calm Water tried to help me and
now he's dead. Just like my ma. And probably Reverand Ray if I just walk
away. This time, I'm not turning tail. This time I'm taking a stand, 'cause if I
don't... if I run... fear will dog me where ever I go. And I will never be free.

JUAREZ

Don't you see the resemblance, muchacho? I'm your padre. 17 years ago,
your mama ran off with another man. You were still in her womb. My only
son, my pride and joy. I've been searching for you ever since.

Si, that is where we are. In my alcazar. Just outside the city. Once we get our
hands on the gold, we will be the most powerful family in northern Mexico.
Just give me the medallion and the future is ours.

You tell me what I need to know or I will end you right here…​ ​The
medallion is the key. The key to where the gold is buried.​ ​It's a riddle and
mystery, but I knew eventually that I would find it. But then your mama, that
puta, stole it from me...​ ​...and made off with her lover. A gringo. A nobody.
She took what was mine and for that there is no forgiveness! For 17 years
I've been looking for you. 17... years!

You again? I can see that my puto of a son is hiding in your shadow. Does
he really think that you or your God can protect him?

If you or that boy doesn't bring me the gold, that girl will die a slow and
terrible death. We will take her and torture her and burn her alive! You hear
me, Padre!?

JONES

Hey! You wouldn't shoot `ol Jones, would you? I got nothing against
you... We don't need no trouble now!

SHERIFF TIM

My, my... Billy Candle! Been a long time, boy.​ ​I don't think
Thomas`ll be too pleased to see you. You come back to set things
right with him? Fine... (sarcastic) Welcome back. Just don't do
anything stupid, son.
 You've gone berserk, Ray. You're not going no where! Give me those
hog legs!

UNDERTAKER

Billy Candle! Is that you? Boy, you're growing like a weed!​ ​Stand
still... Let me take a measure... Hm... Just in case...​ ​Well now. Looks
like you're as tall as Reverend Ray.​ ​If it comes down to it, what do
you prefer? Pine...or Oak?

SUZY

Well, Billy Candle! Ain't you a sight for sore eyes!​ ​Here in town and
you don't come see your old friend, Suzy? Get your skinny butt up
here 'fore I change my mind.

Flat busted, huh? Should of known…​ ​Thought you were gonna find
the Gold of Juarez? Well, maybe you can find a rope to get your ass
through this window? But don't raise a ruckus...

So you never found the family jewels? Maybe I can help?​ ​Oh my, you
have​ grown!

CLYDE FORRESTER

Billy the spic! Where you think you're going? Hope you don't think you're
getting lucky? Not unless you got some money? You wanna piece of Suzy,
you gotta pay, muchacho…

And what exactly would they be receiving here, padre? Insults? Rebukes?
Life's too damn short to spend it listening to self-righteous sons of bitches
like you. A free round of drinks for anybody who wants to follow me back
to my saloon!

You self-righteous son of a whore! You think heaven wants anything to do

 with you? You're going to hell and I'm gonna send you there!

CRAZY FRANK

Look Lucy! It's Billy! Well boy, did you find the gold?

You want to take what's mine? One more step and Lucy'll blow your head
clean off! Me and Lucy, we shot men, women, children.. So we sure as hell
can shoot a lowlife like you. We got him on the run, Lucy! Look at him go!
(LAUGHS)

MARISA

… ​There is one candle, but three graves. The gold of Juarez belongs only to
the brave. This medallion is for you, my darling. I want you to wear it
always. Put it on. Over your heart. The candle engraved upon it will light
your path and protect you from evil.

There's only one candle, but three graves. In the first grave, a bad man
sleeps. He might wake up, so shhhhh. In the second one, a rich man with a
heart of stone slumbers. For him the gift will not be enough. In the third
grave, a beggar lays. You need to light the candle for him, because a little
warmth means a lot to a poor man. He'll give you the gold, because the poor
are always more generous than the rich. There is one candle, but three
graves. The gold of Juarez belongs only to the brave

MRS. POWELL

Preacher, help me! Preacher!!!

Reverend, why'd you stir 'em up like that? You got 'em all crazy and now
they killed my Tim…

NED THE PLAGUE

They call me Ned the Plague, because I bring death where ever I go. What I
want to know is…who the hell are you?
Preacher… Hey, can you hear me? Will you absolve a kindred soul… the
soul...of a murderer?

LIEUTENANT PARKER

Lieutenant Matthew Parker, sir. We tried to smash through, but there's

suppressive fire. Those sons of bitches are taking us out like tin ducks in a
shootin' gallery. They set up a barricade outside. I sent some men with a
powder keg to blow it all to hell - we'll be attacking shortly…

TRAIN ENGINEER

The bastards took out the tracks on the bridge. It's a hard turn, so we always
slow down there…​ ​On the roof? Yeah, I saw someone, alright. The soldiers
went up after him and started shooting… and then we drove into…

You're… You're leaving us? What if they come back? We've got the payroll
for the whole damn railroad in here! Stay! You'll get a reward? Gold!

TRAIN BOSS

Listen, there's a lot of money here, we can split it up, alright? You killed a
hell of a lot of people today! You ain't that much of a saint, are ya?

FARMER

Where the hell is that wife of mine? Where is she? It don't take this long to
pick dandelions greens.....​ ​Stupid woman. Laura! Where'd you get to
woman? Laura?!

CHAT

Boy, you got some huevos coming back here…​ ​Then fight me, you
lily-livered son of a bitch. If you win, the boys'll leave you be. But that's the
only way in hell you're gonna see her.

FERGUSON
The only reason you're walking out of here alive is because of my daughter.
But Billy, I swear to God, if I ever see you again, I will take your life. Now
you get the hell out of here and you never come back…

MOLLY

You don't know that. You never thought you'd beat Chat, but you did. You
gotta trust yourself a little bit. You gotta trust that others are gonna see the
good in you.

Dad, stop it! You always taught me that thing only important about a person
is what's in his heart. Well, I'm in Billy's heart and he's in mine and if you
care about me at all, you will leave him be.

TY STEWART

I heard tell of a man who wore armor like yours. They said that seeing him
was like looking into death's very eyes…​ ​He wasn't a man of God though.
Quite the opposite, so by now he's probably pushing up daisies…

I know who you are. I recognized you the moment I saw you. Only one man
alive has the huevos to wear armor like that. Who do you think are? A
knight in shining armor, slaying dragons and saving fair damsels? You're
day is done, old man. Your time has come.

TOM MANSON

Ty! I'm Tom Manson. This here is Ty Stewart, and these are the McLyde
brothers. We're Texas Rangers. We believe he's there on that ranch, working
with a gang of rustlers led by a man name of Ferguson. We're right about to
bring some hell down on 'em.

Juarez told me that that farmer we kilt in Hope was your brother…​ ​You
know, once the McLyde's were done breaking all his fingers, I shot him in
the guts and I gotta say, he took a long time to die.​ ​That bitch, his wife,
didn't even put up a fight. Me, I think she wanted us…

MCCLYDE 1
 Manson's starting to piss me off, talking to me like that. Like I'm his
goddamn lacky…

MCCLYDE 2

We thought you were dead!

CALM WATER/HERMIT

Calm yourself…rest easy…​ ​The river swept you away.​ ​You can't help
anyone now! You must rest now...sleep.​ ​The river brought you to me for a
reason. It's not time for you to go yet.

The bad spirit left in the night. Calm Water watched over you.

Not everyone can bring back the feather from the eagle's nest. Would you
like to try?​ ​In the middle of the lake, high in the forest, there's a rock. A
sacred Eagle's nest sits atop. Climb it and retrieve a feather. Prove to the
river that you're not afraid.

OUTGROWN/BOY

Hey, senor! Wanna do a little business? I'll give you a hundred pesos to bury
my father. But the funeral has to be primera clase!

I don't have a hundred pesos. Did you really think a little boy like me would
have a hundred pesos? The only thing I have and can give you is this key to
the sacristía in the abandoned church. You'll probably find something worth
something there.

BANDIT 1
 Remember that storm in '67? A bolt of lightning struck Rodriguez and fried
the son of a bitch to a crisp.

(shivers)... It's colder then hell out here...

I'd skin that boy alive for a taste of that little trollop!

BANDIT 2

Hey, cabron! Besa mi culo! I'm going to hit you in the huevos if you don't
shut the hell up.

I`m coming! Hey, don't go falling asleep! You'll get hit by a lightning and
end up like Rodriguez…

BANDIT 3

Shut up! You'll bring the whole damn mountain down.

Blow his head off!

Undertaker's got a box all ready for you, Ray!

NARRATOR
The legend of the Lost Gold of Juarez has been passed from one generation to the
next since the time of Hernando Cortez. It was said to be the ransom for
Montezuma, held hostage by the Spanish in the great Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan
(t -n ch t -tlän ) . The treasure disappeared soon after the sacking of the city and
some believe it’s buried near the border town of Juarez. The legend relates that the
Aztec Sun God, Huitzilopochtli (wē​'​tsə-lō-pōch​'​tlē), put a curse on the treasure
and that all who seek it will find only madness and their own perdition. This
avaricious madness is known as… The Call of Juarez.
http://www.answers.com/topic/huitzilopochtli

CITIZEN 1

Can't you see there's no way through? Come back later!

CITIZEN 2

They shot Tim!

CITIZEN 3

They killed the sheriff!

COWBOY 1

This is where we hang horse thieves.

COWBOY 2

You deaf? Get away from that animal!

HYENA 1

... Reverend Ray... I came when I heard the gunshots... W... We need to get
the sheriff...

HYENA 2

What the hell do they need it for?! Besides, half the town is going to be all
over this place in two shakes!

HYENA 3

Or what? You gonna send me to hell? Clyde says you're hardly a man of
 God! He says--

WOMAN

Reverend! Reverend Ray! I heard gunshots at your brother's farm!

DRUNK 1

And then he said...you know what he said? That I`m cheatin` And I looked
at that turd and I said, "Huh?" Like I don't have no clue. And you know what
I told him, Eli? I said…Eli? Eli! Where the hell did you get to?

DRUNK 2

DYING SOLDIER

The train - we're fending them off, but we won't hold much longer!​ ​Ghhhr…
Get…. Help…

PASSENGER 1

Sir! Save us please!

PASSENGER 2

Take the jewels, my money, take it all! Just don't kill me!

PASSENGER 3

Have mercy!

SOLDIER 1

Don't forget the keg, preacher...

SOLDIER 2
 SOLDIER 3

BANDIT 4

FEMALE HOSTAGE

DYING OFFICER

RUSTIC 1

If I were you I'd wear a raincoat… Everyone's having their turn that
strumpet. Even Dirty Dave…

RUSTIC 2

Dirty Dave? Son of bitch hasn't had a bath since Grant marched into
Richmond.

RUSTIC 3

THUG 1

THUG 2