"SOUTH OF PURGATORY"

By
Algis Danaitis

Algis Danaitis
296 Du Grand Bois
Orléans, Ontario
CANADA K1E 2S6
tel. no. (613) 837-5956
e-mail:danaita@bell.net
FADE IN:

EXT. THE SOUTHWEST - 1880 - DAY

Harsh, dry country, with mountains east and west on the
horizon. A rail line runs roughly north to south.
From the west, THREE HORSEMEN ride towards a combined train
and stage station, which bears the sign "FIELDER’S STATION".
They are the HAMMOND BROTHERS: ELDER, in his forties, as
harsh and pitiless as the country around him; BILLY, the
youngest, always grinning, a little simpleminded; and
SYLVUS, the middle son, mean to the marrow. They dismount at
the station.
From the south, BRENNAN and JONESY, a scruffy looking pair,
ride past the station’s corral as the Hammond brothers
watch.
From the north rides BODEEN, a hard looking man in his
mid-thirties. He dismounts at the corral.

In Bodeen’s wake follows BARTHOLOMEW TREMAYNE, maybe forty

years old, maybe more, a man with a certain panache.
The seven men stand apart, but acknowledge each other.

EXT. A STAGE ROAD - DAY

Six horses pull a stagecoach, with veteran DRIVER
(DAHLSTROM) and long-serving SHOTGUN (WALLER) on top.
FROM A RIDGE, THREE APACHES look down at the stage. Their
leader is MANGAS, solemn-looking, maybe thirty-five, dressed
in a mix of traditional and "white" clothing, carries a
Henry rifle, while a pistol and large knife hang from his
belt.

The other two are TAZA and RIAGO, younger than Mangas,
similarly dressed. Taza has a bow and quiver slung over his
back, and carries a Sharps rifle, with a knife and hatchet
tucked in his belt. Riago is armed like Mangas.
RIAGO
Them?
MANGAS
Perhaps.
Mangas leads them along the ridge, tracking the stagecoach.
 2.

INT. THE STAGECOACH - DAY

FOUR TIRED PASSENGERS keep as much distance as is possible
in the cramped interior of the stagecoach.
JULIE ADAMSON, travel and weariness coating her elegance,
glances out the window.
JULIE
How much longer?

BIRDWELL
To Fielder’s Station? Can’t be long
now.
Middle aged, BIRDWELL’s pleasant demeanor contrasts with his
austere black suit, white shirt and broad brimmed black hat.

MILLER
A couple of hours, I reckon.
MILLER, about thirty years old, self-important, wears a
Deputy US Marshal’s badge.

QUINN
Another hour. No more.
QUINN, a quiet man, about forty, plainly dressed, unarmed,
rests in the corner.

BIRDWELL
Thee art certain?
QUINN
Quite.

MILLER
Quinn is very familiar with this
territory.

BIRDWELL
How so?
MILLER
Didn’t think I’d recognize you, did
you, Quinn? This man here was on
the run through this country. After
robbing a payroll. He has spent the
last seven years in a penitentiary.
JULIE
Seven years?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

QUINN
I made my choice. Can’t then
complain about the outcome.
JULIE
You seem to know a lot about the
case, Marshal Miller.
MILLER
Deputy Marshal, ma’am. I had just
been appointed when he was
convicted.
BIRDWELL
Then thee has paid thy debt. Where
is thee headed?

QUINN
California.
JULIE
You have prospects?

QUINN
I’ve been promised a job in a
sawmill. Quaker fellow who hires
ex-convicts.
JULIE
Decent of him.
BIRDWELL
I too am headed to California. If I
can be of any assistance to thee,
Mr. Quinn...
QUINN
Mighty friendly of you, Mr.
Birdwell.

BIRDWELL
Seems that we are all heading in
the same direction. And thee,
Deputy Marshal?
MILLER
Picking up a prisoner on a federal
warrant in Joseph City. And Mrs.
Adamson here is headed to Madrid.
On her late husband’s business,
correct?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

JULIE
You know a lot about everybody’s
business, Deputy Marshal Miller.
Yes, to settle some of my late
husband’s business interests.
MILLER
Not meaning to be nosy, ma’am. But
I do like to stay on top of things.
You never know what information
might come in handy. I do intend to
make something of myself.
JULIE
I feel safer already.

EXT. THE STAGE ROAD - DAY

Dahlstrom looks up to the ridge and sees three riders -
Apaches. He nudges Waller to look over, then cracks the
whip. The stagecoach speeds up.
Mangas, Taza and Riago speed up to a gallop, then Mangas
splits off as the other two drop below the ridgeline, out of
site of the stagecoach.

As the stagecoach rounds a bend, Riago fires a warning shot,

forcing the stagecoach to a sudden halt. Taza and Riago just
stand there, not threatening, but blocking the route.

INT. THE STAGECOACH - DAY

BIRDWELL
What is going on?
The alarmed passengers look around out the windows.

EXT. THE STAGECOACH - DAY

Waller rests his shotgun, but is ready.

DAHLSTROM
Easy now.
WALLER
If I get one...

DAHLSTROM
The other gets one, or both, of us.
Dahlstrom looks back to see...

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.

Mangas riding up behind.

DAHLSTROM
And he finishes it.
Mangas stops on the right of the stagecoach to quickly
glance inside, then moves around the front over to the left.

INT. THE STAGECOACH - DAY

MILLER
What in all creation...
Miller reaches for his pistol. Quinn signals him to wait.
Miller hesitates, then releases his pistol.

Birdwell looks reassuringly at Julie, who tries to exude

calm.
From the left side, Mangas looks each passenger in the eyes
carefully, then pulls away.

EXT. THE STAGECOACH - DAY

Mangas rides up to Taza and Riago, shakes his head, and all
three abruptly ride away.

WALLER
Now what the blazes was that all
about?
DAHLSTROM
Beats the hell out of me. Just
happy nobody started shooting.
Dahlstrom cracks this whip and the stagecoach starts moving.

INT. THE STAGECOACH - DAY

BIRDWELL
What could have been the cause?

MILLER
Well I wonder.
 6.

EXT. THE STAGECOACH - DAY

The stagecoach resumes its travel at a gallop.

INT. THE STATION HOUSE - DAY

Tremayne enters the station and checks the room.
He draws an anxious but friendly smile from ESTHER
FAIRCHILD, seventeen. JOSHUA, twenty-five, hovers
protectively near his young bride.
FULLER, the middle aged station master and telegraphist,
goes about his business.
FULLER
What can I do for you, Mister...?
TREMAYNE
Wilson. And good day to you too.
Are you Fielder?

FULLER
No, Fuller. Fielder just named the
station.
TREMAYNE
Where is he now?
FULLER
Dead. Heart failure. Some years
back.

TREMAYNE
What fates await us. When is the
next train to Flagstaff?
FULLER
According to the schedule, it
arrives at three o’clock. Departs
at three fifteen. Time for water
and passengers.
TREMAYNE
Then a ticket, please.

FULLER
That’s why I am here, when I ain’t
doing something else.

Fuller moves from the telegraphist desk to the ticket

window.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.

TREMAYNE
It is very quiet here today.
FULLER
Usually is. We’ll see what the
stage brings besides the mail.

Bodeen enters the station, makes note of the Fairchilds,

then brings saddlebags and a rifle to the ticket window.
BODEEN
Here’s your kit, boss.
TREMAYNE
Thank you. The train arrives at
three, according to the schedule.

FULLER
The schedule has had occasion to be
wrong.
Fuller stamps and initials the ticket. Tremayne drops his
coins on the counter and receives his ticket.

FULLER
You wouldn’t by happenstance have
any news on the trouble with the
Apaches, would you?

TREMAYNE
Trouble? And what has caused it
this time?
Esther perks up nervously as Joshua lays a reassuring hand
on Esther’s shoulder.

FULLER
I ain’t getting anything over the
wire. But seems like three men r...
(sees Esther listening)
... had their way with a young
Apache girl near the Jicarilla
Reservation.
TREMAYNE
Jicarilla, you say?

Brennan and Jonesy enter the station.

BRENNAN
Howdy.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.

FULLER
Howdy. What can I do for you?
JONESY
When is the stage due? We’re here
for the mail.

FULLER
About two thirty. Where you two
from?

BRENNAN
We just settled in down near the
Pecos.
The Hammond Brothers, led by Elder, now enter the station.
Elder eyes all those present warily. Sylvus has eyes only
for Esther. Billy looks like he has never been in a train
station.
FULLER
This is turning into quite the busy
place today.

TREMAYNE
How will you ever adjust to your
usual solitude?
FULLER
I’ll live off the memory.
(to the Hammonds)
Anything I can help you gentlemen
with?
ELDER
One ticket for the westbound train.
BILLY
All the way to California.

FULLER
Where in California?
Billy is stumped by the unexpected question.
SYLVUS
Yucca Valley.
FULLER
The line don’t run there.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.

BILLY
Well then how do I get to Yucca
Valley?
Tremayne shakes his head. Bodeen ignores them.

FULLER
The train will get you to Bristol
Lake Junction. You can get a
stagecoach or hire a horse from
there to Yucca Valley.

ELDER
That will be fine.
BILLY
But I don’t like riding in
stagecoaches.
TREMAYNE
Then next time, young sir, choose a
better destination.

Billy stares at Tremayne, pondering the latter’s advice.

Fuller stamps and initials the ticket. Elder hands over the
money and intercepts the ticket before Billy can take it.
Sylvus approaches Esther while Joshua fills a water pitcher
from a tank.
SYLVUS
How far you traveling, Missy?
ESTHER
My husband and I are going to
California.
SYLVUS
Hey, Brother Billy! This here young
missy is traveling with you.
BILLY
Do tell, Brother Sylvus. What’s
your name, Missy?

JOSHUA
It is Mrs. Esther Fairchild.
SYLVUS
Well, begging your pardon, Mrs.
Esther Fairchild.
(to Joshua)
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.

SYLVUS (cont’d)
Pleased to make your acquaintance,
Mr. Esther Fairchild.
Billy giggles. Tremayne glances sternly at Elder.

FULLER
You fellows wouldn’t have heard
more about that incident on the
Jicarilla reservation, would you?

ELDER
Incident?
ESTHER
The attack on an Apache girl.

ELDER
No.
Tremayne looks at Brennan, who just shakes his head.
SYLVUS
Everybody jittered up about some
little squaw?
FULLER
Her relatives are.

BODEEN
They certain it was white men?
FULLER
I am still waiting on the details.

Brennan, halfway through rolling a cigarette, follows Jonesy

out the back door towards the corral.

EXT. THE PLATFORM - DAY

Bodeen joins Tremayne on the platform.

BODEEN
More crowded than expected.

TREMAYNE
We shall see what the stage brings.
I factored in such circumstances.
Which way did the Hammonds come,
Bodeen?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.

BODEEN
From the west, along the rail line.
We all started up on the Purgatory.

TREMAYNE
Brennan and Jonesy?
BODEEN
Jonesy would never go near Apaches.
And Brennan was with him.
TREMAYNE
(looking south)
That sure is desolate country.

BODEEN
Jonesy will get us through.
TREMAYNE
It is what he is being paid for.
And the Apaches?

BODEEN
Well, boss, even they wouldn’t
follow anyone there.
TREMAYNE
Let us hope so, Mr. Bodeen. Let us
hope so.

EXT. THE STATION YARD - DAY

The stagecoach pulls in. Fuller comes out to greet it.

FULLER
You are in ahead of schedule, Mr.
Dahlstrom.

DAHLSTROM
It’s been known to happen, Mr.
Fuller. Got goosed along by a trio
of Apaches that looked us over.

FULLER
Now that is intriguing, Mr. Waller.
What stirred their interest?
DAHLSTROM
Not us, it seems.

Quinn steps out of the stage, followed by Birdwell and

Miller. Quinn then helps Julie down.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 12.

WALLER
(seeing Brennan and Jonesy)
This place looks downright crowded
for a change.
FULLER
I am still the only one working
here.

Dahlstrom sees Bodeen in the doorway as Waller hands down a

couple of suitcases to Birdwell and Quinn.
DAHLSTROM
How many more you got hid inside?

FULLER
Another six, last I checked.
The passengers stretch themselves.
FULLER
(to Julie)
You can use the pump outside, or
the pitcher inside to freshen up,
ma’am. I’ll bring in your bags.
JULIE
Thank you.
Brennan tips his hat as Julie walks past, giving her an
interested look. Julie shrugs it off.

Miller leads the way to the station. Quinn and Birdwell

follow Fuller with the luggage.
Brennan and Jonesy watch as Dahlstrom and Waller begin
unhitching the horses.

INT. THE STATION - DAY

At the ticket counter, Fuller stamps Julie’s ticket and
hands it back to her.

Quinn spots Tremayne. Recognition. Tremayne nods, smiles and

walks to the front window.
Miller approaches the ticket counter.
MILLER
Here’s my ticket. U.S. Marshal’s
Office business.
Elder Hammond and Bodeen look up quickly, suspicious.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.

Tremayne glances at Miller, and dismisses him.

Quinn looks around the room. Birdwell, having deposited the
luggage, pours some water in a glass and offers it to Julie.
Quinn notes the Fairchilds sitting on a bench; the Hammonds
occupying two chairs and part of a bench; and Bodeen near
the platform door.
Miller is done at the ticket counter. Birdwell replaces him
and is quickly done.
Julie joins the Fairchilds.
SYLVUS
You are a lucky man, Brother Billy.
All these purty women on the train
with you.
BILLY
Don’t you wish you were coming
along, Brother Sylvus?

ELDER
Return your mind to what matters,
Brother Billy.
BILLY
I am, Brother Elder. I am.
SYLVUS
Gonna quote Scripture to us,
Brother Elder?

ELDER
None of your disrespect for the
Book, Brother Sylvus!
SYLVUS
Oh, I can feel the words of the
Book a comin’ to his lips.
ELDER
Beware thy blasphemous thoughts,
Brother Sylvus!

SYLVUS
Don’t recall that specific passage.
Julie glances distastefully at the Hammonds, and looks
knowingly at the Fairchilds. Esther responds with a pained
smile.
Quinn approaches the ticket counter.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.

QUINN
(quietly)
Anything special about the
westbound train?

FULLER
Why do you ask, mister?
QUINN
Those five men and the two outside.
They ride in together?

FULLER
Not together. But, come to think of
it, they didn’t arrive that far
apart.

QUINN
You got any way of telling the
train to ride on through without
stopping?
FULLER
Why?
QUINN
If you had to?
FULLER
There is a signal system we use. If
I can’t telegraph to the previous
station.
QUINN
That fellow by the door. He give
you a name?
FULLER
Yes, indeed. Wilson.

QUINN
I’d signal that train. His name
ain’t Wilson.
Tremayne leaves for the platform outside.

Esther strides up to Miller, looking determined.

ESTHER
You said you were on U.S. Marshal’s
office business?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 15.

MILLER
Yes, miss. Jordan Miller, Deputy
United States Marshal for...
ESTHER
It is Mrs. Fairchild. Do you have
any news about what happened to the
young Apache girl?
MILLER
Apache girl?

JOSHUA
The girl attacked on the Jicarilla
reservation?
MILLER
Ah, yes, that one. Not to worry,
ma’am. The Army has the matter well
in hand. The chiefs don’t want to
start any trouble.
ESTHER
What about the three men?
MILLER
Three men?
ESTHER
The three men who attacked the
girl. Their arrest would head off
any trouble, wouldn’t it?
MILLER
Well, the authorities of
jurisdiction are still piecing
together the details. These things
take time.
JULIE
The Army seems to have wasted
little time to corral the chiefs.
MILLER
Well, ma’am, certain actions need
to be taken immediately, to avoid
greater trouble.
JOSHUA
Perhaps they were worried about who
would do the hunting.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 16.

JULIE
Some may have already begun their
hunt. That would explain our
encounter on the road earlier.

MILLER
Indeed it would, Mrs. Adamson. Just
my point. We don’t want any
innocent folks to suffer because of
the actions of some hotheaded
bucks.

JULIE
And the authorities would be as
quick to restrain any hotheaded
folks if it was a white girl
attacked by Apaches, wouldn’t they?

BIRDWELL
I am certain the authorities would
make every effort in either case.
JULIE
Of course.
BIRDWELL
Let us hope that cooler heads
prevail and that the peace is not
broken.

JOSHUA
Yes, let’s hope.
ESTHER
Good thing your army days are over,
Joshua.
SYLVUS
Finish your hitch before real
trouble starts, Mr. Esther
Fairchild?
JOSHUA
I’ve seen my share of trouble.
MILLER
Excuse me, folks. I have to speak
to someone.
Miller joins Quinn by the ticket counter. Fuller is at the
telegraphist desk.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 17.

MILLER
Curious how you happen to be here
at the same time as this gathering
of hardcases.

QUINN
It’s a hard country, full of hard
people.
MILLER
Just when a payroll is coming
through on the train? I overheard
your whispered inquiries.
QUINN
I have a ticket for a train to
California. I recognize one man,
the one on the platform. He gave a
false name. Why don’t you talk to
him?
MILLER
You took a payroll off a train
before, Quinn. So I am talking to
you.

EXT. THE PLATFORM - DAY

A train whistle is heard faintly in the distance.

Tremayne sees the column of smoke approaching. He slaps the
riding crop against his leg with satisfaction.

INT. THE STATION - DAY

Tremayne enters the station house, checking his watch.
TREMAYNE
The train appears to be early.
FULLER
It happens. No extra charge.
Miller and Quinn are by the ticket counter. Fuller glances
at Quinn, then moves to the rear of his office, near a door.
Tremayne draws his gun. The Hammonds follow suit, with Billy
pulling a short barreled shotgun from his luggage.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 18.

TREMAYNE
Ladies and gentlemen, please remain
calm and doing nothing foolish.

Bodeen jabs his pistol into Miller’s ribs and disarms him.
Miller stares contemptuously at Quinn.
Sylvus pulls Joshua away from Esther roughly and searches
him for weapons.

SYLVUS
Mr. Esther Fairchild ain’t
carrying.
Elder searches Birdwell.

ELDER
This one’s clean also.
BIRDWELL
I carry no weapons, friend. I am no
threat to thee.
ELDER
Then move over to the bench with
the pilgrim and the women, friend!

Bodeen searches Quinn.

BODEEN
This one’s unarmed too.
TREMAYNE
They do not issue guns to convicts
upon release, do they? Join the
others, Mr. Quinn. You too, Deputy.
Quinn and Miller move over to the bench.

EXT. STATION YARD - DAY

Brennan and Jonesy approach the stagecoach as Dahlstrom is
handing down the mailbag to Waller.

BRENNAN
Drop your guns, boys.
Dahlstrom and Waller turn, surprised, see the drawn guns,
and slowly raise their left hands as they discard their
pistols with their right.
Dahlstrom spies the shotgun on the seat, out of Brennan or
Jonesy’s sight.
 19.

INT. THE STATION - DAY

Sylvus laughs as he pulls out a small pistol from Julie’s
bag.
SYLVUS
This here is our dangerous one.
BILLY
All Mr. Esther Fairchild has is a
pretty wife. Now how does he figure
on protecting his woman?
TREMAYNE
That will do. Remember why we are
here.

The train whistles its final approach.

BODEEN
The Station Master?!
Tremayne and Bodeen look at the ticket counter: deserted,
with the back door open.
TREMAYNE
Get him!
Bodeen jumps the counter and races out the back door.

EXT. THE PLATFORM - DAY

Bodeen sees Fuller at the signal post as the train slows for
the station.

Fuller cranks the handle and the red signal arm goes up as a
bell clangs.
As the train approaches, Bodeen raises his pistol and shoots
Fuller twice, then runs to the signal post.

EXT. THE STATION YARD - DAY

Brennan and Jonesy are distracted by the shot.

Dahlstrom grabs the shotgun and Waller reaches for his

pistol on the ground.
Brennan and Jonesy recover and start firing at Dahlstrom and
Waller.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 20.

Dahlstrom fires the shotgun, hitting Jonesy in the chest, as

Waller, wounded, drops the pistol.
Brennan fires twice at Dahlstrom, then another shot at
Waller. Dahlstrom’s lies dead across the top of the
stagecoach.

EXT. THE PLATFORM - DAY

Bodeen approaches the signal post, with no idea what to do.

The train shows no sign of slowing. In fact, it is

accelerating.
Tremayne and Elder run out on to the platform.

The train rolls by them, picking up speed.

Tremayne, Elder and Bodeen watch, helpless, as the train
fades away into the distance.

INT. THE STATION HOUSE - DAY

Tremayne enters, followed by Elder and Bodeen. An agitated
Sylvus and Billy cover the Fairchilds, Julie, Birdwell,
Miller and Quinn.

SYLVUS
What happened?
BILLY
Why didn’t the train stop?

SYLVUS
The train was supposed to stop,
Mister Tremayne! That was the plan!
ELDER
Well it didn’t.
SYLVUS
Why?
BODEEN
’Cause the station master got
heroic.
MILLER
(to Quinn)
Guess your plans got spoiled.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 21.

BODEEN
What’re you talking about?
MILLER
Quinn’s plans to rob the train.

BODEEN
Who the hell is Quinn?
Brennan walks in the door.

BRENNAN
Jonesy’s dead. The stage driver
grabbed a shotgun when he heard the
first shot.
BODEEN
And the driver and shotgun?
BRENNAN
Dead.
BILLY
What happened?
TREMAYNE
More inconvenient heroics.
ELDER
Jonesy was the only one who knew
the way south, Tremayne.
SYLVUS
So what do we do now, Mister
Tremayne?

Tremayne looks over his gang and his prisoners.

TREMAYNE
Is there a mailbag or strongbox on
that stage?
BRENNAN
Both.
TREMAYNE
Then get them. Help him, Bodeen.
As Bodeen and Brennan leave, the telegraph key starts to
click.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 22.

SYLVUS
What’s that?
TREMAYNE
I do believe someone is sending the
station master a message.

BILLY
Too bad he can’t answer.
ELDER
What’s the message?
SYLVUS
Well don’t look at me.
BILLY
Don’t look at me neither. I ain’t
no telegraph operator.
JOSHUA
It keeps saying "Repeat".

TREMAYNE
A scholar among us. What else?
MILLER
Don’t tell them anything!

Tremayne points his pistol at Esther’s head, and looks to

Joshua.
JOSHUA
It won’t help them much. It just
keeps calling the station’s name,
asking to "repeat".
ELDER
Repeat what?
JOSHUA
It doesn’t say.
The telegraph keeps on clicking its message.
QUINN
The station master sent a warning.
TREMAYNE
Busy little beaver, wasn’t he?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 23.

BILLY
Why don’t it stop?
TREMAYNE
It awaits an answer.

BILLY
What do we do?
SYLVUS
The hell with this.

He shoots twice at the telegraph machine, shattering it.

Bodeen and Brennan charge in, pistols drawn, carrying the
strong box and mail bag.

BODEEN
What happened now?
TREMAYNE
Sylvus was responding to the
telegraph. Let’s see what we have
here.
Bodeen and Brennan place the strongbox and mailbag on the
ticket counter. Brennan breaks the locks on the strongbox
and mailbag with a crowbar, then dumps the contents on the
station master’s work counter.

Bodeen and Tremayne pick through the larger envelopes.

Tremayne pulls out a few dollar bills.
Elder joins in and starts rummaging through the scattered
contents. Brennan pitches in. Each tears open a couple of
envelopes.
SYLVUS
So, any cash in them envelopes?
Tremayne, Bodeen, Elder and Brennan continue to rummage
through the envelopes.
BILLY
What do we do with them?

The Fairchilds move closer together as Julie sits

impassively and Quinn watches his guards.
BIRDWELL
May thee spare us some water?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 24.

BILLY
What?
BIRDWELL
May thee spare us some water while
we wait?

SYLVUS
What for? We’re gonna kill you all
anyway.

Joshua tightens his hold on a quivering Esther. Julie

stares, impassive, defiant. Miller is all stunned
realization.
Quinn stares at Tremayne.

BIRDWELL
Has there not been enough violence,
friend?
SYLVUS
I ain’t your damn friend.

Tremayne has totaled up the take.

TREMAYNE
Three hundred and seventy-five
dollars and eighty cents. Hardly
covers my expenses.
BRENNAN
Not much of a split.
BIRDWELL
Hardly worth more violence, friend.
SYLVUS
Who the hell are you calling
"friend", you dumb flathead?

TREMAYNE
He calls all people "friend". What
we have here among us is a member
of the Society of Friends.

BILLY
What’s that?
TREMAYNE
Quakers. Optimists who believe in
the fellowship of all men.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 25.

SYLVUS
So?
TREMAYNE
So he won’t lift a hand against his
fellow men. Even God-forsaken
miscreants like you.
Bodeen puts all of the cash into one bag.
BODEEN
We better make plans, boss.
Tremayne paces around, unworried.
BODEEN (CONT’D)
The train will be pulling into San
Miguel. Telegraph office back in
Laguna knows something’s up.
ELDER
We’re boxed in from the east and
the west.

BRENNAN
We can’t go north.
Tremayne turns to Quinn, thinks for a moment. A decision.

TREMAYNE
We go south, as planned.
BODEEN
Jonesy’s the only one who knew the
way. And he’s dead.

TREMAYNE
Most unfortunate Jonesy. But Quinn
here knows the way. Through the
Jornada del Muerto, all the way
down to the San Andres Mountains.
Don’t you, Quinn?
ELDER
Why should he help us?

MILLER
Because he’s one of you. A low,
scurvy thief. Fresh out of prison.
TREMAYNE
You, sir, are an irritating man.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 26.

Tremayne whips Miller across the face with his riding crop.
Miller drops, a gash on his cheek.
Birdwell and Julie assist him to the bench.
Quinn stares at Tremayne.

Esther is horrified. Joshua grips her hand.

ELDER
And why would this one help us?

TREMAYNE
Our Mr. Quinn is actually quite a
decent fellow.
SYLVUS
So?
TREMAYNE
(to Quinn)
That’s how you got caught, wasn’t
it? Helping someone in distress?

Quinn understands.
TREMAYNE
Gather up the horses, Brennan.
Saddle four extra. Help him, Elder.
And take all the spare mounts.
BODEEN
Four extra?
TREMAYNE
To encourage Mr. Quinn in his task.
The two ladies, and the "friend".
QUINN
Why him?

TREMAYNE
A spare hostage can come in handy.
And the Quaker won’t give us any
trouble. Will you, sir?

Birdwell looks up at Tremayne, resigned.

Elder and Brennan head outside.
BODEEN
What about the other two?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 27.

TREMAYNE
Let’s go, Quinn. Come along,
ladies. Friend.
Julie and Birdwell hesitate, then leave Miller on the bench,
and follow Bodeen’s direction to the door.
JOSHUA
You can’t just...
Billy blasts him with the shotgun.

Esther screams, a chilling, horrific scream.

SYLVUS
(laughing)
You a widow now, missy.

Julie wraps her arms around the hysterical Esther. Birdwell

hovers protectively over both women.
SYLVUS
What about the lawdog?

Miller looks up from his seat, a bit dazed, but well aware.
TREMAYNE
Give him his pistol, Quinn.

Quinn looks at the guns on the ticket counter.

TREMAYNE (C0NT’D)
Go ahead. Give him his pistol.
Quinn picks up a pistol by the barrel.

Sylvus watches, wondering. Billy just looks puzzled.

Bodeen follows Quinn with his gun.
TREMAYNE (C0NT’D)
(a whisper)
You try and fail, and I’ll give the
young widow to Billy and Sylvus.
Quinn looks at the Hammonds. He carries the pistol over to
Miller and hands it to him.
Miller, failing to hide his fear, takes the pistol loosely
in his right hand.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 28.

TREMAYNE (C0NT’D)
Are you as bold in deed as in word,
Deputy U.S. Marshal?
Miller stares at the pistol, holding it weakly in his hand.

Tremayne holsters his gun.

TREMAYNE (CONT’D)
Free shot, Deputy.

Miller looks up at Tremayne. He turns to the others:

Birdwell; Julie; the grieving Esther, who now just stares
blankly in shock; the grinning Billy; Sylvus. And Quinn.
Quinn signals him by shaking his head slightly.

Miller drops the pistol to the floor.

Tremayne draws his pistol and fires twice.
Miller, hit in both knees, screams in agony and rolls to the
floor.

TREMAYNE (C0NT’D)
Explain to whomever finds you why
you are only wounded while the
others are dead.
(holstering his pistol)
Come. I have urgent business to the
south.

EXT. THE STATION YARD - DAY

All are mounted. Julie’s and the very shaken Esther’s hands
are tied to their saddle horns. Birdwell’s are not.
Quinn, his hands also free, is next to Tremayne at the front
of the column. Bodeen is right behind.

TREMAYNE
Lead the way, Mr. Quinn.
They ride through the yard, past the stagecoach and bodies
of Dahlstrom, Waller and Jonesy.

Miller’s agonized screams can be heard from the station

house.
Crossing the tracks and heading south, Julie sees Fuller’s
body lying by the signal post. Esther, riding next to Julie,
just stares ahead, catatonic.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 29.

Billy and Sylvus follow close behind.

Birdwell trails them, followed by Elder and Brennan. He
takes a last look at Fuller’s body.

EXT. THE WAY SOUTH - DAY

Quinn and Tremayne lead the column through the harsh New
Mexico landscape.

Bodeen brings up the rear with Elder.

Tremayne lights up a cigar, then offers one to Quinn, who
declines.
TREMAYNE
This is the road men like us are
meant to travel. High adventure,
with no laws but or own.
QUINN
That road ended for me in a
Colorado prison.
TREMAYNE
That’s because you lacked my expert
guidance. You are tough and
resolute. You can go far.

QUINN
I was going to California.
TREMAYNE
To what?

QUINN
A lumber mill.
TREMAYNE
To saw logs for thirty dollars a
month? You can do better than that.
QUINN
Honest work earns fewer regrets
than the wages of sin.

TREMAYNE
You are riding south of Purgatory
like the rest us now, aren’t you?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 30.

QUINN
Not by any choice of mine.

TREMAYNE
Really? Think that deputy marshal
would speak up for you?
QUINN
He didn’t have a chance against
you. He knew that, Tremayne.
TREMAYNE
Why should I give anyone a chance?
QUINN
And your offer to me, Mr. Wilson?
TREMAYNE
So you are the one who spoke to the
station master?

QUINN
I got him killed.
TREMAYNE
He got himself killed. No one
forced him to choose valor over
discretion.
QUINN
Maybe he did what he thought was
right.

TREMAYNE
Then let that be his epitaph. He,
the coach crew and the deputy will
be the heroes of this tale. Just
remember what happens to heroes.

QUINN
I’ll keep that in mind.
TREMAYNE
There will come the time when you
will have to choose sides.
QUINN
I’m your prisoner.
TREMAYNE
Every man wearing a badge will leap
to the same conclusion as that
deputy marshal.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 31.

QUINN
That may be.
TREMAYNE
I can use good men.

QUINN
You mean men who are tough and
resolute? I figure you got enough
already.

TREMAYNE
(chuckles)
Quantity, not quality. Bodeen’s a
solid man. Brennan, he came with
Jonesy, who knew the lay of the
land.

QUINN
And the Hammonds?
TREMAYNE
Elder is the shepherd. Sylvus is
the mean little goat. But do not
underestimate his skills.
QUINN
And little brother Billy?

TREMAYNE
Oh, Billy Hammond may be slow of
wit, but he is fast on the trigger.
And his aim is true.

QUINN
So, like the usual fine company you
keep, like at the roost in the San
Andres Mountains?
TREMAYNE
I know. I know. They are riffraff.
But effective. And only temporary
associations. But I see you as a
man with staying power.
QUINN
I’m honored. But I try not to
repeat mistakes.
TREMAYNE
What was your mistake last time?
Other than getting caught.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 32.

QUINN
So you’re offering me a chance?
TREMAYNE
Rather bestowing an opportunity.

QUINN
I got no desire to return to
prison.
TREMAYNE
I do not intend to spend any time
in prison.
QUINN
Yeah, they’ll most likely hang you.

TREMAYNE
Only if they catch me. And what
will they do to you? Like I said,
the time will come for you to
choose. But bear in mind I am not
so foolish as to sign on someone I
could not take. Should
circumstances so demand.
Tremayne spurs his horse a little to ride ahead.

EXT. THE STATION YARD - DAY

Mangas stops by Waller’s body, then moves on to Jonesy’s,
and casts a quick eye on Dahlstrom’s up on the stagecoach,
then takes a quick glance around.

Taza and Riago examine the tracks in the station yard.

Mangas enters the station house.

INT. THE STATION HOUSE - DAY

Mangas nudges Joshua Fairchild’s corpse with his toe, to
confirm what he already suspects.
Then he walks over to Miller, who lies on his side, his
pistol barrel in his mouth, his head in a pool of blood.
Mangas looks down with contempt, then leaves the station.
 33.

EXT. THE STATION - DAY

All three Apaches are mounted. Taza points south.
Mangas leads the way across the tracks past Fuller’s body.

EXT. THE PECOS RIVER - DAY

Tremayne signals a halt in sight of the river.

TREMAYNE
What do you say, Mr. Quinn?
QUINN
The Pecos. We’re pretty close to
San Miguel.

TREMAYNE
And any posse.
BODEEN
So how do we avoid it?

Tremayne turns to Quinn.

QUINN
Ford here. Then turn south towards
Gallinas Peak. We’ll be in sight of
it by nightfall.
BODEEN
That gives us a few hours of
riding. This is pretty hard
country. We don’t want to kill the
horses.
QUINN
This is the easy part.
TREMAYNE
What about water?
QUINN
Fill up here. We’ll cut across a
couple of streams. And there’s a
water hole a little over half way
there.
Tremayne signals the group forward.
LATER

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 34.

All are dismounted. Bodeen stands watch, while the rest are
filling canteens in the river.
Birdwell helps a calmer but still catatonic Esther off of
her horse, and gives her a drink from a canteen.

Julie, carrying a canteen, joins Quinn who is filling his

canteen next to Tremayne.
JULIE
Maybe you can get us around posses,
Mr. Quinn, but what about the
Apaches?
TREMAYNE
It is not their custom to hunt
white train robbers.

JULIE
What about white rapists?
TREMAYNE
Your point being...

JULIE
Three white men raped an Apache
girl near the Jicarilla reservation
several days ago.

TREMAYNE
So I’ve heard. Most unfortunate.
JULIE
And the authorities are more fussed
with how the Apaches will act, not
with the rapists.
TREMAYNE
A sad but unsurprising state of
affairs.

JULIE
We were rousted by three Apaches
while on the stagecoach.
TREMAYNE
Again, ma’am, your point?
JULIE
They looked us over and let the
stage go.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 35.

TREMAYNE
How fortunate.
JULIE
My question is: where they looking
for one of your companions?

TREMAYNE
You are direct, madam. That can be
admirable.

JULIE
Care to give a direct answer?
TREMAYNE
I have not been near the Jicarilla
reservation in ages.

JULIE
And the rest of your fine brood?
TREMAYNE
I do not ask for character
references in my business. The
results could be disturbing.
JULIE
Well then, Mr. Tremayne, maybe
posses of white men will be the
least of your worries.
TREMAYNE
Madam, the path we shall tread
would discourage most any men. Even
Apaches.

JULIE
And if you are wrong?
He caps his canteen and walks away.

QUINN
Apaches know that area well. Enough
to discourage all but the most
determined.

JULIE
What about the most vengeful?
Quinn watches the Hammonds hang their canteens on their
saddles. He sees Billy staring at Esther, then locks eyes
with Sylvus.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 36.

QUINN
Three men.
JULIE
That is the agreed story.

QUINN
Then I recommend you stick close to
me.
Julie is about to mount her horse.

QUINN (CONT’D)
And ma’am, I wasn’t meeting
Tremayne at the station. Whatever
the Deputy thought. I just want us
all to be clear on that count.

Julie mounts her horse.

Birdwell helps Esther back up on her horse. Billy gently
secures her wrists to the saddle horn.

BILLY
I didn’t tie them so tight this
time, Missy. That should be more
comfortable.
Esther looks down at Billy, then stares away blankly.

Quinn hands Birdwell a canteen.

BIRDWELL
This will be hard traveling.

QUINN
It’s the stops that worry me.
BIRDWELL
I expect thee is right.

QUINN
Stick close to the women. When we
stop, stick close to me.
BIRDWELL
How long can thee guarantee our
safety?
Quinn just hooks his canteen on his saddle horn.
Soon all are mounted up. Quinn leads them across the Pecos
River.
 37.

EXT. THE PECOS RIVER CROSSING - DAY

Mangas, Taza and Riago stop where the Quinn and the others
forded the Pecos.
Riago points down at the tracks, then across the river.

Mangas leads the way across.

EXT. A CAMPSITE - NIGHT

The horses are picketed and hobbled. A fire marks the center
of the camp.
Julie sits to Esther’s right, across from the three
Hammonds.

Billy stares at Esther with simpleminded expectation;

Sylvus, calculating; while Elder looks on the women with
disdain.
Birdwell joins the women carrying two plates of food. Quinn
pours coffee into two cups.
TREMAYNE
Join me for a cigar, Mr. Quinn.
Quinn hesitates a moment, glances at the Hammonds, passes
the cups to Julie, then reluctantly joins Tremayne.
Tremayne hands Quinn a cigar, and another to Bodeen. He
strikes a match and lights both.
TREMAYNE
I surmise that is Gallinas Peak
over yonder.
QUINN
It is. We cross the northern part
of the Sacramento Mountains, then
the Chupadera Mesa.
BODEEN
There’s miners around Gallinas.

QUINN
I know another pass takes us
around. It’s pretty dry, so no one
cares to use it.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 38.

BODEEN
You know where we can find water
along the way?
TREMAYNE
That’s why I brought him along.
QUINN
It has been seven years.
BODEEN
I don’t fancy dying of thirst in
the desert.
QUINN
Neither do I.

Brennan joins the others at the fire.

BRENNAN
(to Julie)
Freshen up your coffee, ma’am?

JULIE
No, thank you.
BILLY
(to Esther)
How ’bout you, Missy? You got
enough food there? Anything else
you need?
Esther just stares at the fire.
SYLVUS
Now don’t be rude, Missy. He’s just
trying to be friendly.
BIRDWELL
The lady is tired, friend.

SYLVUS
There he goes with that "friend"
business again. We ain’t your damn
friends, flathead.

JULIE
You shot her husband and laughed. I
don’t expect the lady feels like
conversation.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 39.

BILLY
Lady? She’s no older than me.

BIRDWELL
Nevertheless, she is a married
woman, and...
SYLVUS
Not no more.

Billy giggles.
JULIE
How can anyone resist such charm?

SYLVUS
I doubt they was married long.
Billy joins Sylvus in a laugh.
BIRDWELL
It matters little how long they
were married.
BILLY
(to Esther, sincerely
solicitous)
Missy, I’m awfully sorry I shot
your man. But it was nothing
personal. We couldn’t take him
along. You gotta understand that.

SYLVUS
Ah, why all this sentiment? I seen
women ready to take up company with
the feller that shot her man afore
the corpse is cold in the ground.

BIRDWELL
Perhaps they were of a less
sentimental nature.
SYLVUS
Some even got better men in the
trade.
BILLY
Missy, I understands you’re
grieving, but maybe it’s time you
was thinking ahead. You got no man
to look after you now. And I could
use me a regular woman. And believe
me, you’ll be needin’ a man looking
out for you real soon.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 40.

Esther stares up at Billy without expression.

SYLVUS
Maybe she ain’t been a widow long
enough to appreciate your generous
offer, Brother Billy.

ELDER
(grim)
Beware of her female wiles.

SYLVUS
Wiles? Her? She is barely more than
a little bitty girl.
ELDER
Lust not after her beauty in thine
heart; neither let her take thee
with her eyelids.
Billy and Sylvus laugh.
SYLVUS
(to Julie)
How long you been a widow?
JULIE
That is none of your concern.

SYLVUS
Long enough to start feeling lonely
at night, I’ll wager.
JULIE
Not nearly long enough.

ELDER
Be wary of her, Brother Sylvus!
Remove thy way far from her, and
come not nigh the door of her
house.
SYLVUS
I would gladly enter that house,
Brother Elder.

Sylvus laughs even harder as Billy giggles. Brennan just

shakes his head.
SYLVUS
(to Julie)
You might be wantin’ to get on my
good side too, like little Missy
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 41.

SYLVUS (cont’d)
there should with Billy. You a
widow with money?
JULIE
The gall!
SYLVUS
Y’see, Billy, he’d settle for
something young and purty. Now you
ain’t hard on eyes, no sir, but
having been ridden a few more miles
than this young’un, you’ll need to
bring more to the table.
BIRDWELL
Thy choice of words is revolting.

SYLVUS
What?
BIRDWELL
It is bad enough that we are forced
into thy company. Need we suffer
thy insults too?
ELDER
Our friend’s talk is not so
friendly no more. He has succumbed.
For the lips of a strange woman
drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth
is smoother than oil.
BILLY
Just draws them like a gun, don’t
he?
BRENNAN
Sylvus, I guess you just don’t know
how to talk to women, unless you’re
settling on a price.
SYLVUS
Big talk. What do you know about
women?

BRENNAN
Well, I was married proper once.
BILLY
Where’s she now?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 42.

BRENNAN
Fever took her, some years ago.
SYLVUS
Well, I’ll have you know I know
plenty well how to talk to women.
And I never need to haggle on no
price.
BRENNAN
Never haggle? Well, with your
charming ways, you must always pay
full price!
SYLVUS
Well, I’ll have you know I never
pay. I get mine all free for the
taking.
JULIE
Are Apache girls free for the
taking? Like near Jicarilla?

Esther turns sharply towards Sylvus. Brennan stops laughing.

Uncomfortable silence all around.
BILLY
Near Jicarilla? Why...

ELDER
Silence, Brother Billy!
SYLVUS
(to Julie)
Woman, it is a long ride to where
we are going. You may grow to
better appreciate my goodwill. Be
sure you got the price for it. Like
I said, I never haggle.

TREMAYNE
Sylvus!
SYLVUS
Yes, Mister Tremayne?

TREMAYNE
See to the horses.
SYLVUS
They been seen to.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 43.

TREMAYNE
Then see to them again.

SYLVUS
You do fancy ordering people
around. The man with the big ideas.
Why don’t you just order us a fat
payroll? Or order a train to stop?

TREMAYNE
See to the horses, Sylvus.
Sylvus glares, right hand near his pistol.
Tremayne just stares back, a hint of contempt mixed with
disdain, his hand nowhere near his gun.
Sylvus hesitates.
SYLVUS
I’ll see if Brother Billy hobbled
the horses proper.
He turns abruptly and walks toward the horses.
Billy is about to comment, but cannot figure out what to say
or even why.

TREMAYNE
Elder Hammond, you keep your
younger brothers in line.

ELDER
And these women? How do I protect
my brothers from them?
TREMAYNE
A knothole would tempt Sylvus when
he gets the itch. Let him use one
for satisfaction. Forgive my
crudeness, ladies.
Julie nervously pulls her jacket tighter around herself.
Esther stares at the retreating Sylvus, contemplating.

QUINN
You think you can keep a tight rein
on this bunch?
TREMAYNE
Shed your doubts.
Tremayne walks off to sit by himself.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 44.

BODEEN
He can handle the Hammonds, Quinn.
Or anybody else he has to.
Bodeen picks a spot near Tremayne, like a guard dog.

Quinn joins Julie, Birdwell and Esther by the fire.

EXT. CAMPSITE NEAR THE PECOS - NIGHT

Taza looks off into the distance as Mangas and Riago rest by
a small fire. Taza joins them.
TAZA
A fire, far away.

RIAGO
The ones we seek?
MANGAS
Maybe. We will follow.

EXT. GALLINAS PEAK - DAY

The fugitives approach the foot of Gallinas Peak from the
east.

BODEEN
The mining camp is on the other
side.
Quinn walks his horse further along. The others follow.

He reaches a second path, one easy to miss, and climbs the

path up a slope which then drops down into a narrow canyon.
Tremayne walks his horse to the lip of the path.

Julie looks east. She spots a cloud of dust. She checks, but
no one else appears to have noticed.
TREMAYNE
Bodeen, take Sylvus, Billy and
Brennan and see what lies ahead.

Bodeen nods and signals to Sylvus, Billy and Brennan. They

ride down the path and soon disappear around a bend in the
canyon.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 45.

TREMAYNE
(to Quinn)
Not that I lack faith in you, but I
did not avoid prison or the noose
this long without reason.
ELDER
They won’t get lost in there?

QUINN
Only one trail for a horseman.
Quinn notices Julie glancing east several times. He looks to
see the same cloud of dust, now closer.

ELDER
I declare, if you did not know this
path was here, you would never find
it.
QUINN
That’s the idea.
Quinn rides ahead and down the slope. Elder follows, resting
his rifle on his hip. Then come Birdwell, Julie and Esther.
TREMAYNE

lingers behind and soon falls back out of sight.

QUINN AND ELDER
ride along the winding trail side by side until they reach a
wider spot in the trail.
QUINN
pulls slightly ahead, and suddenly whips his hat across the
face of Elder’s horse.
ELDER
drops his rifle as the horse rears. He struggles to gain
control of his spooked mount.

QUINN
jumps from his horse onto Elder, and both men and horse
topple over. Quinn and Elder scramble free as the horse
rolls onto its side before struggling to its feet.

BIRDWELL
jumps from his horse and picks up the rifle.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 46.

QUINN
pulls Elder’s jacket over his head, tangling him up. He
spins him around, causing Elder to fumble and lose the
pistol he was drawing.

JULIE
herds Esther’s horse to the side of the trail.
QUINN

knees Elder in the stomach, then straightens him and knocks

him flat with a hard shot with his palm.
TREMAYNE

crests the path and forces his way through Quinn and Elder’s
skittish horses.
TREMAYNE
I will take that rifle, friend.

BIRDWELL
the rifle awkward in his hands, hesitates.
QUINN

searches frantically for Elder’s pistol.

ELDER
struggles to untangle himself from his jacket.

JULIE
spurs her horse into Tremayne’s.
TREMAYNE

slaps away Julie’s horse.

QUINN
sees the pistol on the ground, reaches... A bullet kicks up
dirt between Quinn and the pistol.
TREMAYNE
smoking pistol in hand, settles his horse and dismounts.

JULIE

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 47.

settles her horse and takes hold of Esther’s.

ELDER
finally free, picks up his pistol.

TREMAYNE
yanks the rifle from Birdwell.
TREMAYNE
(to Quinn)
Next time, seek a more reliable
partner.
Tremayne tosses the rifle to Elder.

BODEEN
comes galloping back down the path, followed by Sylvus.
BODEEN
What happened?

TREMAYNE
The dashing of hope.
SYLVUS
What do you mean?

TREMAYNE
(to Julie)
Sorry, madam, but that cloud of
dust turned south. You have been
twice forsaken.

Tremayne glances at Birdwell and mounts up.

Quinn and Birdwell walk back to their horses, each avoiding
to look at the other. As Birdwell mounts, Julie turns away
from him.

TREMAYNE
(to Quinn)
I need you alive. But I only need
one of the women to keep you in
line. Birdwell is the spare.
Tremayne rides off ahead.
Quinn follows the path with Julie and Esther close behind.
Esther ignores Birdwell as she rides past him, while Julie
just shakes her head in disgust.
 48.

Elder and Bodeen bring up the rear with Sylvus.

EXT. GALLINAS PEAK - WESTERN SLOPE - DAY

Bodeen emerges from a hidden path in the mountains, followed
by Tremayne, Quinn, the other hostages and the rest of the
gang.

Quinn points across the flat country toward a mountain range

to the west.
TREMAYNE
How far?

QUINN
Twenty miles. We can make it by
dark.
They ride on.

EXT. GALLINAS PEAK - WESTERN SLOPE - DAY

Mangas halts his horse as he emerges from the same hidden
path and Quinn and company.

Riago, dismounted, checks the ground for sign.

TAZA
Jornada del Muerto?
Mangas nods. Taza shakes his head in disbelief.

Riago mounts his horse. All three head along a trail south
and away from Gallinas Peak, but different from the trail
chosen by Quinn.

EXT. FLATS BETWEEN GALLINAS AND CHUPADERA - DAY

The fugitives and hostages ride sullenly west under the
blazing sun.

Birdwell, downcast, glances at Esther, who stares

stone-faced dead ahead. He looks over at Julie, who
pointedly turns the other way.
Quinn rides ahead of him.

SYLVUS
I guess Tremayne knew what he was
doing when he picked our "friend"
over the husband as a hostage.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 49.

BRENNAN
I reckon that’s why Tremayne runs
the outfit.
BILLY
Sure was lucky for you, Brother
Elder.
SYLVUS
Get distracted by some fluttering
eyelids or a shapely form, Brother
Elder?
Sylvus and Billy laugh. Elder is quiet, morose.

EXT. CHUPADERA MESA - NIGHT

Camped near a small spring, out of sight of the flats,

fugitives and hostages are gathered around a small fire.
TREMAYNE
I am going to check back along our
trail. Bodeen, Elder, see that
there is still a camp when I
return.
Tremayne leaves on foot.

Quinn glances around at Brennan and the Hammonds, uneasy.

Birdwell sits down off to Quinn’s left. Julie sits to
Quinn’s right. Esther sits to her right, staring seemingly
oblivious into the fire.

BIRDWELL
I guess we had better enjoy this
little spring.
QUINN
We won’t be seeing much water from
now on.
Julie awkwardly avoids eye-contact with Birdwell.
BRENNAN
You sure you can find water out
there, after all these years?
QUINN
I know where some of it was. Some
of it should still be there.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 50.

JULIE
How much?
QUINN
Enough, I hope.

ELDER
You hope?
QUINN
I don’t plan to die of thirst just
to spite you.
BIRDWELL
What do they call that place?
QUINN
The Jornada del Muerto.
JULIE
How comforting.
BIRDWELL
We are in the hands of the Lord.
ELDER
He shall guide us to our fate.
SYLVUS
Well, and Amen to that, Brother
Elder. But why in the Lord’s good
name do we have to suffer on this
strip of hell with the Rio Grande
and water a short ride away?

QUINN
Forty miles away at most.
BRENNAN
How long we got to travel down this
Jornada del Muerto?
ELDER
Over a hundred miles, as I make it.
QUINN
Closer to a hundred and twenty.
BRENNAN
That’s a fair piece of dry ground.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 51.

QUINN
And then a little further to the
Roost.
SYLVUS
I still don’t see why we have to
ride through hell to get there.
TREMAYNE
Perhaps, as Brother Elder says, our
fate lies that way.

Sylvus is startled, then annoyed, by Tremayne’s surprise

reappearance.
SYLVUS
Your clever phrasin’ still don’t
answer my question.
QUINN
Because few know the way through
it.

TREMAYNE
(to Sylvus)
Because, you myopic piece of
driftwood, we won’t be followed
there. Because no one would expect
us to go there. Because any posses
will be searching elsewhere. Like
along the Rio Grande. Does that
answer your question, Mister Sylvus
Hammond?

SYLVUS
I just don’t cotton to dying in a
desert, is all.
TREMAYNE
We won’t die. Mister Quinn will see
to that.
Tremayne pours himself a cup of coffee.
SYLVUS
And why do you have to go sneaking
around for?
TREMAYNE
What can I say? It is in my nature.
Tremayne walks away from the fire.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 52.

JULIE
You can find the way through?
QUINN
I plan to.

BIRDWELL
We shall trust in thy abilities.
And in the protection of the Lord.
JULIE
(ignoring Birdwell)
You’ve been to this Roost?
QUINN
That’s where I met Tremayne.

JULIE
Were you working with him?
QUINN
No, ma’am. I worked alone. I just
met Tremayne there.

JULIE
How did you end up on the run?
QUINN
I stole a payroll, like the man
said.
JULIE
Why?
QUINN
I needed the money.
JULIE
Look, I’m not naturally nosy, but
under the circumstances...

TREMAYNE
Go ahead, Mister Quinn. The lady
should know the nature of the man
she’s depending on.

Again, Tremayne has just popped in unexpected.

QUINN
I made a fool of myself over a
woman. She was a pretty little
bobble, all sparkle, but not much
else. I should have known better.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 53.

QUINN (cont’d)
She turned out more expensive than
I bargained for.

JULIE
And how did you get caught?
QUINN
Well, I guess I just wasn’t cut out
for the outlaw trail.
TREMAYNE
Mister Quinn, you are far too
modest. He stopped to help a lost
wagon load of pilgrims.

JULIE
Not a mistake you’d make, Tremayne,
is it?
TREMAYNE
You’ll find me free of impractical
sentiment, ma’am. Rest well.
Tremayne leaves the hostages.
BIRDWELL
What is this Roost they keep
mentioning?
QUINN
A refuge for bad men at the
southern tip of the San Andres
Mountains.
JULIE
No place for us.
QUINN
No, ma’am.
JULIE
If we survive.

BIRDWELL
Thee both understand that I could
not fire that rifle at another
soul.
QUINN
I know killing ain’t so easy.
Esther glances at Birdwell, then returns her gaze to the
fire.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 54.

JULIE
I doubt Tremayne and his brigands
will be as reticent when the time
comes.

BIRDWELL
I am grieved to disappoint thee,
ma’am. But my choice was made long
ago.
JULIE
We may all come to regret your
choice.
BIRDWELL
Nevertheless, I must stand by that
earlier choice.

JULIE
There are times to make practical
choices about the beliefs you hang
on to.

QUINN
The right one ain’t always the
practical one.
BIRDWELL
But it is at the heart of what I
am.
JULIE
And the consequences?

QUINN
They are what makes the choosing
all the harder.
ESTHER
We live and die by our choices. Our
beliefs guide us in those choices.
After a moment’s surprise, all four hostages turn their
attention to the fire.
ESTHER (CONT’D)
We decide what we choose, and when
to make that choice.
Esther glances at Birdwell, not condemning, maybe with some
understanding.
 55.

EXT. THE JORNADA DEL MUERTO - DAY

The fugitives and hostages ride down from the mesa, single
file, into the Jornada del Muerto.
Tremayne signals a halt.
The landscape ahead of them shimmers in the heat.

TREMAYNE
Over a hundred miles of this?
Quinn nods.
BIRDWELL
Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I
fear no evil...
TREMAYNE
For Mister Quinn art with thee,
though he hath neither rod nor
staff to comfort thee. But he
knoweth where the next water hole
be.
Quinn rides forward, leading the way.

Tremayne glances mockingly at Birdwell.

BIRDWELL
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall
not want.
ELDER
He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures: he leadeth me beside the
still waters.

BODEEN
I sure hope so.
BILLY
Brother Elder is getting started.

SYLVUS
Never know when he’ll start a
quoting from the Book, our Brother
Elder.

JULIE
He is very selective in his
quotations.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 56.

SYLVUS
He says what comes to mind, when it
comes. He is that way with the
Book.

JULIE
Pity he is as selective with the
message as with the words.
SYLVUS
Only saints could live up to all of
the Book’s message, ma’am. We are
just poor mangy sinners.
Billy giggles.
TREMAYNE
And very selective sinners to boot.
SYLVUS
We learn what we learn.
TREMAYNE
Amen, Brother Sylvus. Amen.
ELDER
Thou preparest a table before me in
the presence of mine enemies: thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup
runneth over.
BRENNAN
As long as that cup runneth over
with water.

BIRDWELL
Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my
life...

TREMAYNE
As long as sterner men protect
thee.
BIRDWELL
... and I will dwell in the house
of the Lord for ever.
TREMAYNE
On the wings of fallen angels, most
likely.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 57.

BIRDWELL
O my God, I trust in thee: let me
not be ashamed, let not mine
enemies triumph over me.
Tremayne chuckles dismissively and rides further ahead.
Julie glances at Birdwell, then looks away, thinking,
understanding more.

Esther stares ahead, no longer a blank stare, but

contemplating... something.

EXT. THE CHUPADERA MESA - DAY

Mangas halts his little group at the spot where Quinn and
the others entered the Jornada del Muerto.
TAZA
Really, through there?

MANGAS
No. They are headed for that roost.
We travel along the mountains.
RIAGO
Are we following the right three
this time?
Mangas rides along the mesa, glancing at the Jornada to his
right.

EXT. A DRY WATER HOLE - DAY

Quinn paces through the dry, cracked ground as the others
watch from their horses.

SYLVUS
So where’s the water, Quinn?
QUINN
Long gone, I’d say.

TREMAYNE
Where to now?
QUINN
Due south. Walk the horses for a
while. We should reach it by
sundown.
They move on.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 58.

LATER
All are on foot, horses shuffling loosely alongside.
Julie hangs on to her horse, exhausted. She stumbles a bit.
Birdwell helps steady her. She nods thanks.

Esther soldiers on, determination edging over her face.

LATER

Quinn scratches at a dry hole. The others look on, but are
too thirsty and worried to comment.

EXT. THE CHUPADERA MESA - DAY

Mangas look out over the Jornada del Muerto, exasperated at

the folly of it all, and walks back to a spot in the shadows
where Taza and Riago wait by the horses.
RIAGO
They are ten. There will be more at
the roost.
MANGAS
We finish this before then.
TAZA
And the ten?
MANGAS
We only need the three.
RIAGO
We know which three?
MANGAS
We will.

Riago looks off at the horizon, shakes his head and drinks
from a water skin.

EXT. JORNADA DEL MUERTO - DAY

The sun begins to set.

Quinn looks down to see the edge of a pool half hidden by a
clump of large lava rocks. He dismounts and walks his horse
to the edge.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 59.

TREMAYNE
And Quinn did not even have to
strike the rock once, let alone
twice.

ELDER
Do not mock the book, Mister
Tremayne, lest you be left
wandering in the wilderness.
Tremayne shrugs off the lesson.

Sylvus and Billy jump down from their horses and rush to the
pool.
ELDER (CONT’D)
Slow down, you fools. You’ll get
sick if you drink too fast.
Sylvus and Billy hesitate for a moment, then splash in.
Birdwell dismounts and helps Julie from her horse. The two
then help Esther off of her horse and all three walk to the
pool.
BODEEN
Horses and people are pretty done
in, boss.

TREMAYNE
The sun will be down soon. What do
you say, Mister Quinn?
QUINN
Still a couple of days from the
Roost. A hard couple of days.
BODEEN
Should we travel by night?

QUINN
We’ll rest better with the sun
down.
TREMAYNE
Then on Mister Quinn’s
recommendation, we shall make camp
here.
 60.

EXT. THE CAMP - NIGHT

Elder and Tremayne climb up into the rocks above the camp
for a better view of the surrounding countryside.
A small camp fire. Julie and Esther sit at the foot of a
lava rock at the edge of the pool.
Birdwell sits off a bit, alone.
Quinn brings Esther and Julie cups of broth.

JULIE
How much further?
QUINN
Couple more days.

JULIE
Then what?
ESTHER
They’re going to kill us all,
aren’t they?
QUINN
We stick close together, and look
for what opportunities arise.

ESTHER
We already tried that once. It
didn’t work.
Birdwell hears her, pretends he does not.

QUINN
As long as we’re breathing, we can
kick some.
Sylvus, Brennan and Billy are passing around a bottle of
whiskey.
BODEEN
I’d stick to water if I were you.
SYLVUS
Well, you ain’t me. And you ain’t
my ma.
Sylvus takes a big swallow of whiskey.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 61.

BRENNAN
Don’t get greedy.
BILLY
Leave some for me.

BODEEN
You’ll regret it tomorrow.
SYLVUS
I’ll be suffering tomorrow anyways.
At least I’ll have had the pleasure
the pain pays for.
Sylvus hands Brennan the bottle. Brennan has a swig, then
passes the bottle around to Billy. Billy barely gets a sip
before Sylvus takes back the bottle abruptly.

BILLY
That weren’t much.
SYLVUS
A squirt for the squirt.

Sylvus laughs. Brennan cackles. Billy sulks.

SYLVUS (CONT’D)
Don’t act like some small mewling
child, or you won’t get to play
with the big boys.
BILLY
What else is there to do?
SYLVUS
We got liquor. And we got women.
What do you think?
Billy giggles.
BODEEN
That ain’t a good idea.
Tremayne’ll...
SYLVUS
Tremayne ain’t here. The women are.

BODEEN
Sylvus, don’t even think it.
SYLVUS
What are you gonna do?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 62.

Sylvus stands up, still holding the bottle in his left hand,
challenging.
Quinn watches, worried.
SYLVUS
What are you gonna do, Bodeen?
Brennan and Billy line up loosely behind Sylvus.
Bodeen hesitates, realizes that he is alone.

BODEEN
The boss won’t like this.
SYLVUS
Then let him do something about it.
But he’s too busy sneaking about.
BODEEN
He’s out looking to see if anybody
followed.

SYLVUS
On the trail where nobody is
supposed to follow us.
Sylvus sneers and walks toward the campfire, bottle still in
hand.

Brennan, stumbling a bit from the whiskey, and Billy fall in

behind.
Quinn watches the trio approach.

BRENNAN
Who gets to go first?
SYLVUS
I do.

BRENNAN
Why?
SYLVUS
’Cause I say so. Watch Quinn,
Billy.
Billy picks up his shotgun and grins.
BILLY
When do I get a go?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 63.

SYLVUS
After.

Quinn meets the trio halfway to the campfire. He steps in

Sylvus’ way.
QUINN
That’s far enough.

Sylvus stops, stares down Quinn, his hand inching towards

his pistol.
QUINN (CONT’D)
Tremayne needs me more than he
needs you.

BILLY
moves around behind Quinn and to the left.
QUINN

backs to the right, trying to watch both Sylvus and Billy.

BRENNAN
shambles a couple of steps to cut off Quinn’s retreat.

SYLVUS
fixes his gaze hard on Quinn, then laughs.
BILLY

swings his shotgun like a club. Quinn catches the gun stock
in his left hand and tries to pull it away as Sylvus
pistol-whips him, a glancing blow off the head, enough to
stun.

SYLVUS
Tie his hands, Billy.
Billy stands, grinning, then ties Quinn’s hands behind him.

QUINN
struggles to a sitting position.
SYLVUS
That’s it, Quinn. Just sit there
and watch. Billy, he tries to get
in the way, you hit him again.
BIRDWELL

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 64.

intercepts Sylvus and Brennan.

BIRDWELL
Please, I beg thee. They have
suffered enough.

SYLVUS
with a harsh laugh, just pushes past him, knocking him down.
Sylvus stands over Esther.

ESTHER
looks up at him, then stares hard at the ground.
SYLVUS
No sense in letting female company
go to waste.
JULIE
Leave her alone. You’ve done quite
enough to her already.

SYLVUS
This is about what she can do for
us.
JULIE
You disgusting, degenerate,
murderous little swine.
SYLVUS
Care to make me a better offer?
JULIE
I would rather die.
SYLVUS
Do you now? This here bitty girl,
she may be enough for Billy. But I
got a hankering for something more.
Like what you can offer.
JULIE
I have money.

SYLVUS
The well-to-do widow. But you got
no money here and now. But you got
other treasures.
Julie draws herself in protectively.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 65.

SYLVUS (CONT’D)
I’ll wager you fancy telling people
what to do, having your way. But
the wheel’s turned. So I’ll make
you an offer. You please me, and
all your little friends live.
JULIE
What would Tremayne think of your
deal?

SYLVUS
He just needs Quinn to lead him to
the promised land. He only needs
one of you to make Quinn do his
bidding.

BIRDWELL
recovered, sits near Esther.
SYLVUS (CONT’D)
(to Julie, quietly)
So you make the choice. You want us
to all take turns with the little
bitty widow? She’s barely a woman.
It just might kill her. Or maybe
you’d give it up for the Friend. He
didn’t do much for you when he
could, so maybe you should return
the favor. A slow painful death for
the friendly old soul?
ESTHER

stares at Sylvus as Birdwell puts a protective arm around

her.
SYLVUS

takes a long drink from the bottle.

SYLVUS (CONT’D)
Ain’t that touching. How noble. And
kind. But it’s the most he can
manage.

He tosses the bottle to Brennan, who in turn takes one

healthy swig, then another, and leers drunkenly at Esther.
SYLVUS (CONT’D)
Some seems to fancy the little
bitty one.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 66.

(to Julie)
So what’ll it be?
JULIE
hesitates, looks over to Esther.

BRENNAN
stands by the fire, staring drunkenly at Esther, her face
the picture of naked fear.

BILLY
watches his brother, ignoring Quinn sitting behind him.
JULIE

rises to face Sylvus.

SYLVUS (CONT’D)
I don’t care if you don’t smile,
woman. But you’ll see. I’ll make
you howl.
Sylvus pushes Julie down, gets on top, starts gnawing on her
neck, one hand pushing the skirt of her dress up her thigh.
Julie stares straight up, shows no emotion whatsoever.

BILLY
Looks like Brother Sylvus ain’t et’
for a while.
Brennan laughs.

Birdwell gently turns Esther’s head away from the scene.

Esther stares off into the darkness, fear slowly fading
away.
QUINN

kicks the legs out from under Billy. As Billy falls, the
shotgun fires loudly.
THE SHOT

draws everyone’s attention.

QUINN
is up before Billy can rise, kicks away the shotgun, then
boots Billy in the head.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 67.

SYLVUS
turns, tries to reach for his gun, but Julie grips his arms.

QUINN
charges at the drunken and confused Brennan, drives his
shoulder into his chest. Both men sail over the camp fire.
The bottle drops to the ground. Brennan is writhing in pain,
winded.
SYLVUS
breaks free of Julie, pushes her back. As he draws free his
gun, Julie drives both her feet into his side, knocking him
down.
Sylvus HOWLS in pain.
QUINN

runs up and drop-kicks the rising Sylvus, knocking him down

again as the pistol sails free. He jumps to his feet in time
to face Sylvus.
SYLVUS

charges at Quinn, swinging, but misses.

QUINN
sidesteps Sylvus and knees him in the hip.

SYLVUS
gets back on his feet, hurting, furious. He charges at
Quinn, who dodges his fist. Sylvus hooks Quinn’s leg with a
foot and pulls him off balance.

Sylvus moves in, but Quinn buts into him, steps back and
launches into Sylvus with both feet.
Sylvus is knocked back. He sees the pistol in reach. Before
Quinn can get back up and charge, Sylvus jumps for the
pistol, reaches for it...
A SHOT
kicks up dirt between Sylvus and the pistol.

TREMAYNE
smoking pistol in hand, approaches the water hole. A worried
Elder stands behind him. Tremayne holsters his pistol.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 68.

SYLVUS
looks up at Tremayne, then considers the pistol lying in the
dirt.
TREMAYNE
Go on, Sylvus. Show us your mettle.
SYLVUS
hesitates, then draws away.

QUINN
struggles to his feet.
BRENNAN

sits up, still gasping for air.

ELDER
checks Billy, who has a fair size welt on the side of his
face.
ELDER
Look what he done to Billy’s head!
TREMAYNE
Perhaps he has knocked some sense
into it. Now are we all done with
this foolishness?
Quinn joins Julie near the fire.

TREMAYNE (CONT’D)
See, Quinn, reliable help is so
hard to find.
JULIE
Maybe it’s the business you’re in.

TREMAYNE
Then it may not be wise to
antagonize me.
(to Bodeen)
I left you in charge.
BODEEN
(cowed)
It won’t happen again, Mr.
Tremayne.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 69.

TREMAYNE
I should say not. Otherwise, I
might be forced to alter our
arrangements, maybe even arm Quinn.
I can count on him.
ELDER
(raging)
He beat up Sylvus and Billy!

TREMAYNE
He was no kinder to Brennan.
ELDER
He ain’t my kin.

TREMAYNE
Then as the eldest Hammond, I
expect you to see that your kin
keep their flies buttoned until the
Roost.

Tremayne walks toward the campfire. He stops to pick up the

almost empty whiskey bottle, and tosses it far away. It
smashes on the rocks.
TREMAYNE (C0NT’D)
Bodeen, see that Quinn’s hands are
well tied. Then tie the ladies
hands.
BODEEN
(indicating Birdwell)
And him?
TREMAYNE
What about him?

Esther gently puts her hand on Birdwell’s shoulder.

TREMAYNE (C0NT’D)
How sweet. So kind to him who can
do nothing for her.

JULIE
I can’t wait to see you burn in
hell.
TREMAYNE
See that you don’t join me there,
ma’am.
Esther gives Birdwell a comforting hug. She is facing away
from the camp.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 70.

BIRDWELL
Lord, how long shall the wicked,
how long shall the wicked triumph?
ESTHER
Who will rise up for me against the
evildoers? Who will stand up for me
against the workers of iniquity?
BIRDWELL
But the Lord is my defence; and my
God is the rock of my refuge.
Esther’s blank stare is gone, replaced by steely
determination.

ESTHER
And he shall bring upon them their
own iniquity, and shall cut them
off in their own wickedness.

EXT. JORNADA DEL MUERTO - DAY

They ride, exhausted, through the burning country.
Quinn is in the lead, Tremayne at his side. Elder follows
with Esther, Julie and Birdwell in a tight group, with
Brennan right behind. The prisoners’ hands are tied in
front, except for Birdwell’s, which remain free.
Then come Sylvus, sullen and silent, and Billy, his usual
simple-minded smile on his bruised face.

They push on past sundown, and are riding again by dawn.

EXT. A WATER HOLE - DAY

It is a small watering hole, hidden in a dip in the ground.

Fugitives and hostages dismount. The Hammonds and Brennan

fill their canteens. Bodeen fills two: his and Tremayne’s.
Birdwell fills a couple of canteens.
Julie brings Esther to the water hole next to Birdwell. They
splash some water on their faces, then cup their hands to
drink. Quinn joins them.
QUINN
Get all the water you can. This is
the last we’ll see until we’re
across the flats.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 71.

TREMAYNE
How far to the gap?
QUINN
Another thirty miles or so.

TREMAYNE
And the Rio Grande?
QUINN
It turns west for a bit. We’d cross
it if we went due south.
BODEEN
Mexico?
QUINN
No. Las Cruces, La Mesa. Fort
Fillmore. Fort Bliss.
TREMAYNE
And patrols.

ELDER
Patrols?
TREMAYNE
Soldiers. Watching for hostile
Indians. And Rangers along the
river in Texas. No, we cut through
the San Andres Mountains and head
for the Roost. Then swing south
through Texas.
Tremayne waters his horse away from the hostages.

Kneeling by Julie, Quinn wets his kerchief to cool his head.

JULIE
Once we get to this Roost, he
doesn’t need us anymore.
QUINN
He doesn’t need us after we reach
the gap in the mountains.

BIRDWELL
And then?
Quinn ties off his kerchief and caps his canteen.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 72.

BIRDWELL (CONT’D)
I am sorry that my choice has
brought us all to this.
Tremayne and Elder join Brennan, Sylvus and Billy.

TREMAYNE
Brennan, I want you to cover our
trail. See if anyone follows.
BRENNAN
What loco weed chewing lunatic
would follow anyone through that
backside of hell?
TREMAYNE
Someone loco, or very
determined. Or soldiers or rangers
wandering in from the west or
south. Either way, I want to know
before they catch up. Now let’s
mount up.

Tremayne rides past the now mounted Julie and Esther.

JULIE
Maybe hunters are following. From
Jicarilla.

ESTHER
I hope those three men get the
punishment they deserve.
Elder and Sylvus look away, dismissive. Billy just wonders.

TREMAYNE
Someone will surely suffer.

EXT. THE JORNADA DEL MUERTO - DAY

Mangas looks west into the flats. He sees someone far away
in the distance.
TAZA
Them?

Mangas nods.
RIAGO
The Spirit is with them.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 73.

MANGAS
He brings them to us.

EXT. THE JORNADA DEL MUERTO - DAY

Tremayne leads the group towards what appears to be a gap in

the mountains. Bodeen follows right behind.
Quinn, Julie, Birdwell and Esther form the middle of the
pack. The Hammonds bring up the rear.

JULIE
How much further?
QUINN
You can see the gap up ahead.

Sylvus rides closer to Julie and Quinn.

SYLVUS
Well, Mister Quinn, seems like we
are about to part company.

QUINN
I’ll keep a place warm for you. I
doubt I’ll have to wait long.
SYLVUS
(with a laugh)
That’s it. Keep your spirits high.
I’ll enjoy killing you all the
more.
(to Julie)
The clock is running down. Maybe we
can still come to terms. A wealthy
widow could steer me to a different
path.
JULIE
As long as the wealth lasts.
SYLVUS
There is that. But at least it
offers you more time.

JULIE
Time in purgatory or eternity in
hell?
SYLVUS
Just floating some choices.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 74.

ELDER
Keep clear of that one, Sylvus. She
means to seduce you. Her mouth is
smoother than oil, but her end is
bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two
edged sword.
SYLVUS
Now when have I heard that one
before?

Sylvus cackles and drops back.

Billy is next to Esther.
BILLY
Miss Esther, I am truly sorry I had
to kill your man back at the
station, but you have to understand
I had to. There was no room for him
with us. We just couldn’t bring him
along.

Esther stares straight ahead.

BILLY (CONT’D)
Now, there’s no good reason for you
to die too. I can look after you. I
figure I owes you that much.

Esther turns an stares coldly at Billy, who does not notice

the change.
BILLY (CONT’D)
Now you think about it. I would
look after you, I swear. I’d
provide for you, and protect you,
like a man should.
Esther turns away abruptly.

BILLY (CONT’D)
You think about it, Miss Esther.
ELDER
Forget that one, Billy! She is
damaged goods. She will bring you
nothing but grief.
Elder trots his horse ahead.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 75.

BILLY
You don’t mind him, Miss Esther. He
ain’t done well with female
company.

They approach the gap. Tremayne stops on a low crest in the

trail. The others catch up.
BODEEN
Is that Brennan?

He points back down their trail. A horse is galloping toward

them. The rider appears unsteady.
Puzzled, and concerned, Tremayne canters back down the trail
to intercept. Quinn, Bodeen and the others follow.

The Hammonds fan out as the horse starts a crisscrossing

pattern.
Tremayne and Quinn corner the running horse. Bodeen catches
the reins and pulls the horse to a stop.

BRENNAN
the top of his head raw and bleeding, hands tied to the
saddle horn, his body kept upright in the saddle by being
tied to two crossed sticks, two arrows in his chest, another
in his side.

Julie turns away while trying to keep back Esther, as the

latter stares intently at the gruesome sight.
Bodeen dismounts and cuts the ties at Brennan’s hands. The
body sways from the saddle. Bodeen catches him.

Birdwell dismounts and helps Bodeen lower Brennan’s body to

the ground. All can see the blood in the crotch area.
Elder jumps to the ground.

ELDER
Savages!
BODEEN
The bastards!

Tremayne looks down at the body.

TREMAYNE
It is safe to say it was not a
posse of lawmen that got him.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 76.

BODEEN
They... They...
TREMAYNE
They did indeed.

Sylvus looks to Tremayne, naked fear flashing across his

face.
BILLY
Who?

Elder just stares at the body.

QUINN
I reckon someone was determined
enough to follow us through that
backside of hell.
ESTHER
(faint, almost mumbling)
And he shall bring upon them their
own iniquity, and shall cut them
off in their own wickedness.
TREMAYNE
So it seems. Well, they got the
wrong man.

Tremayne glances at the Hammonds, then turns his horse back

toward the gap.
Brennan groans faintly.
BODEEN
He’s... He’s still alive!
BIRDWELL
Lord have mercy.
Quinn dismounts and joins Birdwell beside Brennan’s body.

ELDER
He took all they could inflict upon
him, and he still lives. Praise
Jehovah!

QUINN
They left him alive.
SYLVUS
Left him?!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 77.

QUINN
Long enough to reach us.
BODEEN
Why would they do such a thing?

QUINN
(looking right at Sylvus)
It’s a message. Some of us are
expected to die slowly.

Sylvus laughs, harsh, dismissive, mirthless, but a little

uneasy. Billy does not.
SYLVUS
We’ll see who dies slowly. And by
whose hand.

Birdwell kneels over Brennan.

BIRDWELL
Lord above, show this man mercy.

A gunshot. A bullet hole appears in Brennan’s forehead.

Tremayne remains in his saddle, smoking pistol in hand.
TREMAYNE
His will be done, Brother Birdwell.
(holstering the pistol)
Now let’s go.
ELDER
We can’t just...

TREMAYNE
He is past caring. Bring the horse.
We will have more use of it. Now
mount up.

Bodeen and Elder hesitate over the body.

TREMAYNE
Leave him or join him.
Bodeen and Elder pause a moment longer, then quickly mount
up.
BODEEN
(indicating the prisoners)
And them?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 78.

TREMAYNE
Bring them along.
Tremayne leads the way. Quinn, now mounted, rounds up Julie
and Esther.

Birdwell pulls a knife from Brennan’s belt.

BIRDWELL
I will see to the body and catch
up.

ELDER
If the Apaches let you.
BIRDWELL
Then they will save thee the
trouble.
Quinn hesitates.
BIRDWELL (CONT’D)
(to Quinn)
The ladies need you more.
Quinn nods and herds Julie and Esther after Tremayne.
Sylvus and Billy follow at a trot, with Elder behind.

Bodeen takes a last look at Brennan’s body, hesitates, then

pulls a small shovel from his saddle pack, and throws it
sticking in the ground near Brennan’s body.
Bodeen takes a last look at Birdwell and gallops after the
others.

Birdwell picks up the shovel and starts digging.

EXT. THE SAN ANDRES MOUNTAINS - DAY

Tremayne leads the group at a gallop through a gap in the

southern foothills of San Andres Mountains. They halt on a
plateau surrounded by rocky formations.
TREMAYNE
Elder, bring the prisoners over
there. You and Billy watch them.
Quinn looks apprehensive.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 79.

TREMAYNE (CONT’D)
Bodeen, Sylvus, come with me. We’ll
see if anyone is following. Start a
campfire, Elder. It may draw them
out.
Tremayne, dismounting, draws his rifle from the scabbard.
Bodeen gathers up his, Tremayne’s and Sylvus’ horses, then
hands the leads to Billy.
On foot, Tremayne leads Sylvus and Bodeen, both now armed
with rifles, back along the trail toward the gap.
Quinn and Julie dismount, wrists still tied. Elder, still
mounted, herds them along. Julie leads Esther’s horse.
ELDER
(dismounting)
Picket the horses, Brother Billy.
(to Esther)
You, help him.
Julie helps Esther dismount. Esther, wrists still bound,
gathers up the horses and follows Billy.
ELDER (CONT’D)
Quinn, sit over there.
(to Julie)
You, come over here.
(tossing a length of rope)
Tie his hands and feet back of him.

JULIE
He won’t be able to move very fast,
should he need to.
ELDER
Now that would be a shame.
(to Quinn)
Now down on your knees with your
arms behind you.
Quinn hesitates a moment, then works his bound wrists around
his feet. He rests on his knees, hands now behind him.
ELDER (CONT’D)
(to Julie)
Move it, woman, or I’ll shoot him
in the leg.

Julie reluctantly picks up the rope and proceeds to bind

Quinn’s wrists, then feet, together.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 80.

ELDER (CONT’D)
No tricks, woman. I’ll check.
Julie finishes hogtying Quinn.
Elder motions with his rifle to Julie to back off, then
gives the ropes a satisfied pull.
ELDER (CONT’D)
When the Apaches come, they can
have you.

QUINN
Who says they’ll want me?
JULIE
Perhaps we shall point them in the
right direction.
ELDER
You think those bloodthirsty
savages will stop to ask who did
what? We all pay for our sins in
the end. The more fortunate just
pay later than sooner. Now gather
some firewood, woman.
Julie pauses, then reluctantly goes about gathering up brush
and broken branches.

Billy returns, followed by Esther. She is carrying a canteen

and is about to give Quinn a drink.
ELDER
Don’t waste it on him. Help the
other one gather firewood. Enough
of your settin’ around, mopin’, all
helpless and pitiful. Make yourself
useful.

Esther puts down the canteen near Quinn. As she joins Julie
gathering some broken scrub, she raises her bound wrists.
ESTHER
I work better with my hands free.

Elder hesitates, then slashes the ropes around Esther’s

wrists. As she turns to start work, Julie raises her wrists
to Elder. He considers his action, then cuts her bindings.
QUINN
I could help too.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 81.

ELDER
Quiet, you. Don’t go thinking I’ve
forgotten what you done to Sylvus
and Billy. Tremayne ain’t here to
protect you now.

Birdwell rides in to camp.

ELDER (CONT’D)
Well, the Lord does indeed protect
fools. Put the horse with the
others.
Julie returns with some branches and brushwood.
Esther continues to gather odds and ends of wood, drifting
further away from the main camp.

ELDER
(to Birdwell)
I’ll start the fire. Now cut some
bacon and bring a pan. No sense
lettin’ the fire go to waste.

BIRDWELL
And how do I cut the bacon?
ELDER
Where’s Brennan’s knife?

BIRDWELL
Sylvus has it.
Elder plants his knife between Birdwell’s feet.

ELDER
Use that.
BILLY
You givin’ him a knife?

ELDER
What else would Mister Friendly use
it on exceptin’ the bacon?
Birdwell picks up the knife, glances at Quinn, and walks to
the packs.
Billy looks around, notices that Esther has wandered past
the picketed horses, almost out of sight.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 82.

BILLY
I’ll go and gather some more
firewood, Brother Elder. And check
on that girl. Make sure she don’t
escape.

JULIE
And just where would she go? On
foot?
ELDER
You do what you gotta do, Brother
Billy.
Billy trots away after Esther. Elder lights the fire.
Birdwell watches Billy, glances at Quinn and Julie, then
finishes cutting the bacon.
QUINN
You think Tremayne’ll be happy if
anything happens to any of us.

ELDER
Your time is up. All of you. We
don’t need you no more.
JULIE
Your brother has plans for Esther.
Same as for that young Apache girl.
ELDER
And if the young widow is
agreeable, she just might get out
of this alive. Sylvus just might
keep you, though I believe you are
more trouble than you are worth.
JULIE
You filthy...

ELDER
Watch your slippery tongue, woman,
lest I cut it out! Sylvus don’t
fancy you for talk.

Try as she might, Julie has no answer.

ELDER
You’ve done quite enough. Getting
Sylvus in trouble. And Brennan
killed.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 83.

JULIE
Me?
ELDER
You provoked them. He goeth after
her straight away, as an ox goeth
to the slaughter.
JULIE
You are utterly mad.

ELDER
She also lieth in wait as for prey,
and increaseth the transgressors
among men. I’m wise to your doings.
But your Jezebel’s charms won’t
work on me.

Birdwell drops the bacon in the pan. The strips sizzle.

EXT. THE GAP - DAY

Tremayne peers carefully across the flats.

BODEEN
Think they’ll come straight at us?
TREMAYNE
No, but maybe we’ll spot which turn
they’ll take.
SYLVUS
If they ain’t already in the
mountains.

BODEEN
How many do you figure?
TREMAYNE
That depends. How many Apaches do
you think you managed to provoke,
Sylvus?
SYLVUS
Why are you picking on me? It’s
just plain unfair.
TREMAYNE
Why should I be fair?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 84.

SYLVUS
Well it ain’t fair to blame me.
Billy were there too. And Elder
watched.

TREMAYNE
Well, now, that is a surprise,
isn’t it?
SYLVUS
Besides, she was just an Apache
squaw.
TREMAYNE
And out there are just some of her
Apache relatives. Perhaps life is
fair after all.

BODEEN
Jaw all you want, but I think I see
movement out there.
All three look into the shimmering horizon. Maybe something
is moving, maybe not.

EXT. A PATH NEAR THE CAMP - DAY

Esther is picking up whatever fuel for a fire she can find.

BILLY (OFF)
Need any help?
Esther turns, sees Billy standing behind her, and resumes
her gathering.

ESTHER
I have to gather more wood for the
fire.

BILLY
Ain’t no hurry.
Billy casually walks up to Esther. He gently touches her
hair.

BILLY (CONT’D)
No hurry at all.
Esther straightens up, still holding various sticks she has
gathered. Billy strokes her cheek. Esther backs away.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 85.

BILLY (CONT’D)
Now Miss Esther, you know what will
happen if you don’t.
Esther moves back, but not out of reach. Billy rests the
shotgun against a boulder, then gently brushes away the
bundle of wood from in front of Esther as he closes in for a
kiss.
Most of the wood falls. Esther hangs on to one knobby piece
in her hand.

As Billy leans in for a kiss, Esther bites his lip, then

jabs the knobby piece hard in Billy’s crotch. As he doubles
over in pain, she breaks the piece across his shoulder,
pushes him away and runs past him.

Billy staggers painfully after her.

BILLY
Now why’d you go an’ do that for?
Esther grabs the shotgun and cocks back one hammer.

Billy is within reach.

BILLY
Why?

Esther fires the first barrel.

EXT. THE CAMP - DAY

Quinn, Julie, Birdwell and Elder hear the shot.

EXT. THE GAP - DAY

The shot echoes.

TREMAYNE
Damn them!
BODEEN
Apaches?

TREMAYNE
I can only hope.
 86.

EXT. THE PATH - DAY

Esther cocks the second hammer and aims it at Billy, his
side a bloody mess, a bewildered look on his face.
BILLY
Now why’d you go an’ do that for?
Esther fires a second time.

EXT. THE CAMP - DAY

Elder listens to the second shot.

JULIE
Apaches?
QUINN
That was a shotgun.

BIRDWELL
Esther.
The others see Esther marching purposefully past the horses
into the camp, carrying a pistol in one hand.

ELDER
takes a step towards her.
BIRDWELL
No!

ESTHER
still too far for accuracy, raises the pistol with both
hands and fires.

ELDER
flinches at the shot, then realizes that he has not been
hit.

ELDER
Murdering harlot!
He raises his rifle.
ESTHER

still out of effective range, fires again, misses again.

BIRDWELL

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 87.

tosses the knife near Julie.

JULIE
picks it up and races to Quinn’s side.

ELDER
blind with fury, fires.
ESTHER

is hit once in the abdomen, staggers, and fires her pistol a

third time.
ELDER

again flinches as the bullet comes close, then fires again.

ESTHER
hit in the abdomen again, crumbles.

ELDER
turns to see Julie about to cut the ropes.
ELDER
First the little widow, now the
Black Widow herself.
BIRDWELL
steps in between Julie and Elder.

BIRDWELL
Thee shall not!
ELDER
now crazed with anger, just keeps coming, chambering in
another round.
BIRDWELL
grabs hold of Elder’s rifle by the barrel, struggling with
Elder who tries to pull it free.
JULIE
is hurriedly cutting Quinn’s hands free.

ELDER

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 88.

just cannot pull the rifle free of Birdwell’s grip.

ELDER
So be it.
He pushes the barrel in Birdwell’s stomach, then pulls the
trigger.
BIRDWELL
hangs on to the barrel with both hands as the bullet rips
through his mid-section.
ELDER
levers another round into the chamber.

ELDER
Be damned with the rest.
He fires once, followed by another shot.
BIRDWELL

releases the rifle, staggers back and falls.

ELDER
reloads and looks to...

QUINN
his hands free, slicing the ropes at his feet. He quickly
throws the knife.

ELDER
the knife stuck in his right breast, fires wide.
QUINN

pulls the last strand of rope from around his feet and
charges at Elder, picking up the frying pan as he goes.
ELDER
still standing, painfully tries to lever another round into
the chamber.
QUINN

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 89.

brains Elder with the frying pan. Elder drops the rifle
before dropping to his knees. Quinn swings the pan with both
hands, hitting Elder hard across the temple with the edge of
the pan, cracking the skull.

ELDER
keels over, eyes wide open.
QUINN

discards the pan, grabs the rifle, and pulls Elder’s pistol
from his belt.
QUINN
(to Julie)
Run!

JULIE
hesitates at Birdwell’s body, but sees that he is clearly
dead. Quinn takes her by the arm. They run past the horses,
down the path Esther came from.

TREMAYNE, BODEEN AND SYLVUS

race into the camp.
Sylvus rushes to Elder’s body.

SYLVUS
Brother Elder! Brother Elder!
Tremayne, rifle ready, sees Birdwell’s body, then Esther’s,
keeps looking for tracks.

SYLVUS
(looking around frantically)
Brother Billy?! Brother Billy?!
Bodeen spots some footprints. He points to the path.

Tremayne nods and leads the way.

They race down the path and come across Billy’s body.

SYLVUS
(tears in his eyes)
Brother Billy?! Brother Billy?!
Bodeen picks up the discarded shotgun.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 90.

TREMAYNE
So the young widow did settle some
accounts before perishing.

BODEEN
Quinn’s got Elder’s rifle. And a
pistol.
Sylvus, now in a rage, wipes his tears as he stumbles from
left to right and around.
SYLVUS
Quinn! You hear me?
QUINN AND JULIE

are sneaking through a break in the rocks. Quinn carries the

rifle; Julie has the pistol.
SYLVUS (OFF)
Quinn!!

TREMAYNE
signals to Bodeen to swing wide right. Then he sends Sylvus
to the left.

BODEEN
Why didn’t they just take the
horses and run for it?
TREMAYNE
Because he’s calling it. All cards
are on the table.
QUINN
finds a small cave. He motions to Julie to hide in there.
She crouches inside.
He then moves higher into the rocks.
TREMAYNE

spots his movement and fires quickly.

QUINN
ducks as the bullet ricochets off the rock, too close for
comfort.

BODEEN
moves quickly, holding his fire.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 91.

SYLVUS
works his way around the other side, out of sight.
SYLVUS
I’ll hurt you, Quinn! But you’ll
live! Long enough so you can watch
me with the widow woman!
JULIE

huddles in the small cave, clutching the pistol close. She

cocks it.
QUINN
crawls along the rocks, trying to keep low, looking for
position.
TREMAYNE
spots the movement, fires again.

QUINN
scampers along, the bullet kicking up dust behind him.
BODEEN

sees Quinn below him, moves in for a better shot.

JULIE
from the cave, sees Bodeen’s shadow move past her.

QUINN
spots Tremayne’s hat, works the rifle into a firing
position.

BODEEN
has a clear shot at Quinn.
JULIE

steps out of the cave and fires at Bodeen.

BODEEN
pulls back as the bullet clips his calf, drawing blood.

JULIE

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 92.

fires again, steadying the heavy pistol with both hands.

BODEEN
shifts as the second bullet just misses and ricochets, and
turns to fire at Julie.

QUINN
sees Bodeen, fires.

BODEEN
ducks after the bullet cuts through his hat.
TREMAYNE

fires at what little target he has.

QUINN
rolls away from the shot.

JULIE
fires again, desperate, just misses the moving target.
BODEEN

now has a clear shot at Julie.

QUINN
sees his chance, aims, fires.

BODEEN
is nailed to the rock by the first bullet. He takes the
second one in the chest, and rolls away.
TREMAYNE

fires as he moves.
SYLVUS

off to Quinn’s right, sits on top of a rounded rock. He has

Quinn dead in his sights.
A shot, and a bullet smashes his right elbow. As he spins
around, clutching his wound, a second shot hits him in the
left knee.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 93.

Sylvus slides down the rock. As he grapples for his pistol

with his left hand, a third shot shatters his left wrist.
The pistol spins away.
Sylvus sits at the foot of the rock, bleeding but alive,
looks up to see...
MANGAS
impassive, drawing his large knife.

QUINN AND JULIE

each hear Sylvus’ bloodcurdling scream.
TREMAYNE

pauses in mid-step as he hears Sylvus in agony. He crouches

alongside the lava formations, rifle ready, looking for
danger from every direction.
TREMAYNE
I’ll be going now, Quinn. It is
getting too crowded around here. I
have urgent business to the south.
Tremayne cautiously backs away, looking left and right,
keeping an eye out for Quinn.

He heads down the rocky path toward the horses.

QUINN
backtracks, collecting Julie as he passes Bodeen’s body.

TREMAYNE
has made it to the horses. He cuts his loose from the picket
line, as well as Bodeen’s, and mounts up. He canters deeper
into the rocky formations.

QUINN AND JULIE

cautiously make it back into the camp. They see the
remaining horses, but no one else around.

They free up two more horses.

Julie notices the bodies of Esther and Birdwell.
JULIE
We can’t just leave them here.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 94.

Quinn kneels by Birdwell, folding the dead man’s arms over

his chest, closing the eyes.
TREMAYNE
That would be the Christian thing
to do.

Tremayne, sits casually on his horse by the trail leading

away from the gap. His rifle is in its scabbard; his pistol,
in his holster.

TREMAYNE
I can’t let anyone go around saying
they got the better of me.
QUINN
Ride away, Tremayne. Before the
Apaches come.
TREMAYNE
Between the Hammonds and Bodeen,
and Brennan before that, they
should have enough to slake their
thirst.
Julie still holds her pistol. She fingers the trigger.
TREMAYNE
Now, Mrs. Adamson, hitting me with
that heavy pistol at thirty feet is
a chancy proposition. Even for a
skilled shot. Are you that skilled?
QUINN
This is between the two of us.

TREMAYNE
We could still be partners.
QUINN
I left the business long before I
crossed the Purgatory.
TREMAYNE
What a waste of good talent.

QUINN
clutches his rifle, steps to his right.
JULIE

steps to her left, pistol slowly rising.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 95.

TREMAYNE
does not bite.

QUINN
dives and rolls to the side as...
TREMAYNE

draws and fires.

QUINN
prone, rifle level, fires twice.

TREMAYNE
gets off one aimless shot.
QUINN

rises, rifle still pointing at Tremayne.

TREMAYNE
looks down at his wounds, and drops his pistol.

JULIE
is aiming her pistol at Tremayne.
TREMAYNE

drops from the saddle as his horse takes a few steps.

QUINN AND JULIE
approach Tremayne’s body.

Tremayne is dead.
Quinn discards his rifle, gathers up Tremayne’s horse and
pulls Tremayne’s rifle from its scabbard.

MANGAS AND RIAGO

ride into the camp.
TAZA

walks into the camp behind Quinn.

MANGAS AND RIAGO

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 96.

have their rifles across their saddles. Fresh scalps and a

blood-soaked leather bag can be seen hanging from Mangas’s
saddle.

TAZA
picks up Bodeen’s and Tremayne’s horses and joins Mangas.
RIAGO

gathers up the other horses.

MANGAS
stares impassively at Quinn.

Both men have their hands over the trigger guards.

Mangas releases the hammer on his rifle, then slaps
Tremayne’s horse back towards Quinn and Julie. He then
tosses the canteen from Bodeen’s horse. It lands at Quinn’s
feet.
Mangas and Taza look at the bodies of Esther and Birdwell.
Taza pulls the small shovel from Bodeen’s horse and tosses
it towards Quinn.

Mangas turns and rides back the way he came. Riago and Taza
follow, bringing all the extra mounts with them.

EXT. THE FLATS - DAY

Quinn and Julie ride Tremayne’s horse. They see a GROUP OF

RIDERS coming their way.
Quinn cradles his rifle.
The Riders approach, led by a man wearing a U.S. Marshal’s
badge.
Quinn lowers his rifle and raises his hand in greeting.
U.S. MARSHAL
Bit out of the way for a day’s
riding, folks.
JULIE
We were at Fielder’s Station.

U.S. MARSHAL
Hostages?
Quinn nods.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 97.

U.S. MARSHAL
And your captors?
JULIE
Dead. Along with two other
hostages.

U.S. MARSHAL
(to Quinn)
You?

QUINN
Apaches got some.
U.S. MARSHAL
I reckon you folks have some tale
to tell.

The Marshal signals the posse to follow him.

Quinn and Julie follow with the rest of the posse.
FADE OUT