Knowles Crossing

by C. M. Albrecht

C. M. Albrecht
4485 San Sebastian Way
Sacramento CA 95823
Tel (916) 393.7720
Fax (916) 393.7743
Email: pplepic@gmail.com

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

Northern California.  Scrub oak and pine trees.  Dry, rugged and rocky terrain.

SUPERIMPOSE:  Amador County, California, 1890

CHUGGING train stands in b.g.

Smoke billows from stack.  Excited PEOPLE in and around train firing guns BAM BAM BAM at:

THREE BANDITS on horseback in f.g.

The bandits GALLOP forward hell bent for leather through the trees.  Two or three heavy canvas bags attached to each saddle.  Occasionally one of the bandits fires his revolver BAM wildly out behind him.

LATER – NIGHT

It’s quiet except for crickets CHIRPING and frogs CROAKING.
Occasionally an owl HOOTS or a coyote lets out a NIGHT CRY.

The three horses are tied off to one side among the trees.  A small fire CRACKLES.  Remains of a meal lie about.

The three bandits walk back to the fire wiping sweat from their brows.
	
JAMES SHEFFIELD, 40.  Clearly the leader of the pack. James has more class and more style than the others, but not much more.  He aims to dress like a gentleman, although at the moment he’s pretty dusty and disheveled.  Carries a pearl handled six shooter on his hip beneath his long dress coat, and a short barreled six shooter stuck in his waistband.

WILLIAM “LEFTY” PICKNER, 30’s.  Husky, wears two guns even through he’s nominally left-handed.  Rough and ready.  He’s carrying a short-handled shovel.

EDWARD “SHORTY” MORGAN, 32.  Short, fair with a red face.  Slightly chubby.  One gun.  Doesn’t look like a bad sort.

The men are clearly tired and winded from their efforts.  Lefty tosses his shovel and James gets a bottle from his saddlebag on the ground by the fire.

					JAMES
			I think we may drink now to
			a piece of work well done,
			my compadres.

					LEFTY
			‘Specially when some of us
			done a lot more of the work
			than others.

James’s eyes glint, but he lets the remark ride and, after a healthy swig, passes the bottle to Lefty.

					JAMES
			Lefty, drink to the future.

Lefty swallows, wipes his mouth and passes the bottle on to Shorty.

Shorty nods and takes a healthy swig and then a second.  Hands the bottle back to Lefty.

					SHORTY
			I do enjoy a drink now and
			then.  However not in my
			restaurant.  You know what
			I’m going to do when I open
			my restaurant?  I’m going to
			have it printed right on the 
			menu: “Persons under the
			influence of liquor not allowed
			in this place”.  And smokin’
			indoors too.  I’m against it.
			I believe I’ll have that printed
			on the menu too:  “This is an
			eating establishment and no cigars
			or no other missiles of any kind
			will be allowed in same”.  I saw
			that someplace.
				(And he likes the ring of it)
					(MORE)

					SHORTY (Cont’d.)
I haven’t made my mind up
			about the name.  I was thinking
			maybe Shorty’s Café, or perhaps
			Shorty’s Restaurant – what do
			you boys think?

Lefty takes another healthy swig before handing the bottle back to James.

					JAMES
			Well, if you’d welcome my
			personal opinion, Shorty,
			I think you could find a name
			with a little more – well, 
			something more elegant.
			Shorty’s Dining Emporium, or
			Shorty’s Delmonico.  Or
			maybe – what’s your last
			name again, Shorty?

					SHORTY
			Morgan.  Edward Morgan. I
			got that name Edward from
			my grandpa.

					JAMES	
			Yeah, Morgan.  Now a name
			like The Morgan House; that
			might be a nice name.
			Very elegant.

					LEFTY
			James has a point there,
			Shorty.  The Morgan House.
			I think that carries a 
			welcome sound.

					SHORTY	
			The Morgan House…

Shorty rummages in his saddlebag and comes up with a can of peaches which he begins cutting open with a can opener.

					SHORTY (Cont’d.)
			The Morgan House.  I like
			that.  I surely do.
The Morgan House.

Shorty takes peaches out with his fingers and chews.  Suddenly he stops chewing.

					SHORTY (CONT’)	
			Sardines!

					JAMES
			What?

					SHORTY
			Sardines.  I’m always thinking
			on my menu, and I just
			remembered sardines.  When
			I bought these peaches in
			Sacramento I saw some very
			lovely canned sardines, but
			they were a bit expensive.
			Imported. A sardine sandwich.
			I’ll surely have a sardine
			sandwich on my menu.  I have
			cheese, the fried egg and the
			sliced ham sandwich.   And – yes,
			a sardine sandwich.  An imported
			sardine sandwich.  I do believe
			that would be very elegant.

James begins saddling up his horse.

					SHORTY (Cont’d.)
			You know, I have always been
			inclined to deride the vocation
			of cook, but now that I am
			thinking on becoming a
			restaurateur, I do believe
			I feel a new respect for
			those who toil over the
			hot stove.  Even the housewives.

JAMES
			It’s late boys. I have to
			be back in San Francisco
			tomorrow.  Have to ride all night.

James stops and turns.

			Now remember, we have enough
			cash on us to tide us over.
			We can’t come anywhere near
			this place for a month.  By
			then other incidents will keep
			the law busy and we can come
			back and split up the rest.
			Then you can open your restaurant,
			Shorty.  Where you aim to have
			that restaurant?  San Francisco?

					SHORTY
			Well no.  I did think about
			San Francisco at first.  I 
			surely did.  But they already
			have so many high class
			restaurants there.  no, now
			I’m thinking more on Sacramento
			or Fresno.  I like Fresno.
			And remember, you boys will
			always be welcome for a free 
			dinner at any time.  I don’t 
			forget my friends.

					LEFTY
			I don’t want to spend the
			night here, Shorty.  You?

					SHORTY
			No, if you boys are riding
			out, then I’m leaving too.
			I reckon I’ll drift back
			toward Fresno and look around
			for a likely place.  Fresno
			is a good deal warmer than
			San Francisco.

James and Lefty catch each other’s eye.

SHORTY (Cont’d.)
			Pork and beans with brown
			bread.  I had that in San 
			Francisco.  A very nice item
			indeed for my menu.  Served
			with fresh buttermilk…

					LEFTY
			Well, if you’re heading out,
			Shorty, maybe you’d welcome
			a little company.  I reckon
			I have to go someplace.

The fire out and the horses saddled, the men mount up.

					JAMES
			See you next month, boys.

Shorty and Lefty HOLLER good-byes and James heads his horse in one direction while the other two head off in another.  As Lefty and Shorty disappear from sight, James reins in and slowly rolls himself a cigarette.

A few moments later a gunshot rings out BAM (OS) in the distance.

James sits calmly smoking and after a moment, Lefty comes riding back.

					LEFTY
			I reckon Shorty won’t be 
			needing his share.

					JAMES
			No?

					LEFTY
			No.  He’s not going to open
			The Morgan House after all.

					JAMES	
			That’s too bad.  The Morgan 
			House is an attractive
			name.  And I did think that
					(MORE)

					JAMES (Cont’d.)
			imported sardine sandwich
			sounded very appetizing.  I
			believe I’ll have one when
			we get back to San Francisco.

The men wheel their horses about and ride off into the night together.
Riding, riding…
Still riding in the night, but they’re watching one another very carefully.  After a bit, they stop and dismount for a pit stop.

The two men keep watchful eyes on one another while they roll cigarettes and light up.  James pulls the bottle back out of his saddlebag.

JAMES
			I believe I’ll just have another
			sip, to keep off the chill.

James never takes his eyes from Lefty as he swallows a jolt.

He holds the bottle out.

					LEFTY
			Why thank you, James.  A
			drop would help take off
			the chill.  I swear I 
			broke out pretty bad getting
			in that hole.  That kind of
			work overheats a man.

Lefty takes a step forward and reaches for the bottle.  As he does so, James tosses the bottle at him.

					JAMES	
			Catch!

As James looses the bottle, his other hand goes for the revolver in his waistband.

In that split moment Lefty ignores the bottle, letting it bounce off his chest as he draws his own revolver.  The two min simultaneously fire at each other BAM BAM.  The forty-five slugs knock both men to the ground.

Still alive, James manages to fire one more slug BAM before he sinks back and breathes his last.

Lefty lies bleeding and CURSING softly, trying to staunch his wounds.  Finally, in a last yeoman effort, he raises his revolver and fires one last slug BAM into James’s dead body.  Lefty smiles.

					LEFTY
			Take that, you scoundrel.

Lefty’s head rolls to one side and he stops breathing.

INT. SUPERMARKET – DAY

ESTHER (ESSIE) JORGENSON, 28. Attractive housewife.  A bit harassed as if she’s got problems.

ALEXIS (SISSY) JORGENSON, 5.  Essie’s daughter.  Cute and active.

RITA, 30.  Essie’s friend and neighbor in the same apartment complex.

Their carts hold groceries, but Essie’s has mostly Top Ramen, etc.  Nothing that looks expensive.  They’re approaching checkout.

					RITA
			Look, Essie.  If – I
			mean I could spare a few
			dollars till payday.
			You guys aren’t eating right.

					ESSIE
			Oh…we’re fine, Rita.
			Really.  Believe me, if
			you put Top Ramen down
			beside a big thick steak,
			Sissy would take the
			Top Ramen any time.

Sissy looks at her mother askance.

					ESSIE (Cont’d.)
			Swede likes it too.  Never
			gets tired of it.

					RITA
			Oh well, I just wanted to
			let you know.  I mean, with
			you only working part time
			and Swede just getting started
			on a new job…

At the check stand getting checked out, Essie watches nervously, clearly hoping her calculations have been all right.  Luckily she has enough money.

					ESSIE
			It’ll only take a month to
			get us back on our feet
			again.  But you’re a real
			friend, Rita.  If I ever
			get in trouble, I’ll
			know who to turn to.

					RITA
			Well, just don’t forget
			that.

EXT. PARKING LOT – DAY

Fairly busy supermarket parking lot.  The women push their carts across lot.

(OS) Tires SQUEAL.

Suddenly a car swoops out of nowhere; just misses Sissy and grazes Essie, knocking her to the blacktop as it slams her grocery cart and throws it into the air.

SHOUTS and CRIES from WITNESSES as:

The car ROARS off.

Rita and Sissy crouch over Essie.

RITA
			Essie!  Are you all right?

					ESSIE
				(Slightly dazed)
			All right?  I – yes, I
			think so.  Here, help
			me – up.

She tries to rise with Rita’s help, but her legs are weak.

					RITA
				(To nobody in particular)
			911!  Somebody call 911!
			We need an ambulance here!

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY

Essie lies in bed.  She doesn’t look too much the worse for wear.

TV is showing “The Maltese Falcon”, but Essie isn’t really watching.

ULF (SWEDE) JORGENSON, 32.  Essie’s husband.  Ulf is a healthy young man.  Wears shirt and jeans.  No watches or jewelry.

					ESSIE
			Where’s Sissy?
					
					SWEDE
			Rita’s watching her.  They
			don’t allow little kids up
			here.
				(beat)
			I’d like to catch that
			snake and twist his head off.

					ESSIE
			So would I, Sweetheart.
			Of all the times to get
			hit by a car.  At least
			Sissy didn’t get hurt.
			And I’ll live.

SWEDE
			Thank God for that.   I 
			guess you twisted your leg
			pretty bad.  They’re going
			to give you a pair of 
			crutches to help you get
			around.  But I don’t
			suppose you’ll be going
			back to work for a while.

					ESSIE
			I know.  I’m sorry, Swede.
			I don’t know what’s the
			matter with us.  Well, at
			least, things can’t get much
			worse.

					SWEDE
				(Clears his throat uncomfortably)
			Actually, I guess they could.

					ESSIE
			What do you mean?

					SWEDE
			I got laid off already.  
		
					ESSIE
			Oh.  On…

Ulf glances at the TV just as Sam Spade says, “The stuff dreams are made of”.

Ulf sighs and shakes his head.

INT. JORGENSON APARTMENT – DAY

Unimpressive little apartment.  Cheap furniture.  Essie sits at kitchen table, her crutches lean against table.  She’s holding a letter in her hands.

TV SOUNDS faint in b.g.

FRONT OF APARTMENT

Swede enters through front door and passes Sissy, watching TV in living room.

Sissy glances up and smiles.  Swede sort of returns her smile, but he’s preoccupied.

KITCHEN

Swede enters, sees Essie sadly holding the letter.

					SWEDE
			What’s that?  Somebody die?

					ESSIE
			Well, yes, actually.  But
			nobody you know.  My Aunt 
			Cecile.  I hardly knew her
			myself.  I – just remember
			when I was a kid, she made
			flapjacks.  She always called
			them flapjacks and – at the
			time at least – I thought
			her flapjacks were better
			than any plain old pancakes
			in the world.

					SWEDE
			Well, I’m sorry.  Was she
			pretty old?

					ESSIE
			I think she was about
			eighty.  I’m not sure.  I
			just remember when I was
			Sissy’s age.  She used to
			sing this stupid little
			song to me:  Something about
			Little Bunny Foo Foo bopping
			something on the head or
			something.
				(Smiles at memory)
					(MORE)

					ESSIE (Cont’d.)
			That was a long time ago.
			I haven’t heard from her
			in ages.  And the funny thing
			is that she didn’t live far
			from here.

Swede goes to coffeemaker and shakes it; it’s empty.

					SWEDE
			No luck again today.  God, 
			I don’t know what else to
			do.  This one guy is talking
			about us managing a trailer
			park up around Crescent City
			for a thousand a month and
			a trailer to live in.  Well,
			he calls it a manufactured
			house, but I saw a picture
			of the court and alls I saw
			was old trailers.  I guess we
- I don’t know.  Besides, it’s
not definite.  He wants to
interview a few more people.

					ESSIE
			She left us some property.

					SWEDE
			She left you something?
			Your aunt?  Wow, that’s nice.
			She left you something?
			Really?  You mean, like money?

					ESSIE
			Not money.  I don’t know.
			Some property in Knowles
			Crossing, some little town
			over in Amador County.  Not
			far, I guess.  I’m not even
			sure whether it’s just land
			or if there’s a house on it.

SWEDE
			You’re kidding!  Property?
			House?  If we had some
			property, I could build
			a house on it.  I could, 
			Sweetheart.  I know how.
			I really could.

Essie affectionately pats Swede’s hand.

					ESSIE
			I know you could, Swede.
			You’re good with tools
			It’s just – even building
			costs money.  Lumber, nails…

					SWEDE
			Yeah…

					ESSIE
			My state disability check
			isn’t going to get us far.
			Even if that driver had
			insurance, nobody got his 
			license plate.
				(beat)
			Funny, I don’t remember
			much about Aunt Cecile, 
			but I guess she remembered
			me – besides, there evidently
			wasn’t anyone closer to
			her.  She never married or
			had any children.

					SWEDE
			Amador County isn’t far.
			Maybe we can drive up and
			have a look.

LATER

The kitchen is empty.  But Essie’s crutches CLUNK on the floor.

ESSIE (OS)
			Mmm – LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO
			Little – LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO
			Foo – Foo – oh, HOPPING
			THROUGH THE FOREST…

EXT. SMALL TOWN – DAY

Swede’s old banger passing down main street.  A couple of chain restaurants.  The car passes a KFC.

INT. CAR – DAY

Swede, Essie and Sissy in the car.

Essie glances up from map on her lap.

					ESSIE
			Knowles Crossing is only
			about five more miles.

EXT. HIGHWAY – DAY

Two lane highway in foothills.  Swede’s car toils along the winding road.

INT. CAR – DAY

Faint wisps of smoke from beneath hood…Engine MISSES occasionally as they drive along.

					SWEDE
			Maybe this wasn’t such a great 
			idea.  I’d hate to get stuck
			up here with no wheels.  I wish
			we could’ve rented a car.

					ESSIE
			Whoo, at something like thirty
			dollars a day?  Plus gas.

					SWEDE
			I –

Swede breaks off as the car emits a loud backfire BAM!

Sissy jumps and SCREAMS, covering her ears and ducking her head down in the back seat.

					ESSIE
			Sissy!  Sissy, it’s only a
			backfire.  You’re all right.
			It was only a backfire.

Essie manages to turn enough to help straighten Sissy’s head, cooing to her.

			There now.  See?  It’s all right.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

More driving.  Car passes through KNOWLES CROSSING, a one-street former gold rush town.  Buildings are old, mostly brick.  Arcades cover most of the sidewalks to either side of the street, giving the town a distinctly Old West feel.

The buildings house antique stores, cafés, etc. and one hotel which has been converted into a B&B inn.  The Jorgenson car rolls across a stone bridge above the creek at the edge of town.

Continuing along past town the laboring car turns up a side road and finally stops at another side road off this one.  A dilapidated mailbox sags beside the roadway.

INT. CAR – DAY

					ESSIE
			That’s it!  That’s it, Swede.
			See.

Essie points to the mailbox where the name, HOLDEN is faintly visible.

Swede turns the car into the narrow graveled roadway and proceeds along.

					SWEDE
			Twenty acres sounds like a
			lot of land.  You know, maybe
			we could divide it up and sell
					(MORE)

					SWEDE (Cont’d.)
			a few acres.  Then we’d have
			the money to build a really 
			nice house out here.

					ESSIE
			It really is beautiful, isn’t it?

					SISSY
			If we move here can I have a dog?

					SWEDE
			If we move up here, you
			can have a dog.  Maybe even
			two.  If there’s a pond
			or a stream, we could have
			some ducks too.  I’ve always
			liked ducks.

					SISSY
			So do I.
				(beat)
			Which ones are ducks, the
			ones with short necks or
			long necks?

					ESSIE
			Ducks have short necks,
			Sweetheart.  The ones with
			long necks are geese.
				(Softly)
			…FOO FOO, HOPPIN’ THROUGH THE… 

					SWEDE
			And swans have even longer
			necks.

					SISSY
			But not as long as giraffes,
			I bet.  LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO…

They all laugh at this.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

The car moves along GRAVEL road, takes a turn – and there stands an old tumbledown Victorian two story house.

Off to the side sags a decaying barn and one or two other small outbuildings, plus an outhouse.  Electric lines hang low across to a point near the rear of the house.

At a distance from the house a large yellowing white propane tank stands among the weeds.

COUNTRYSIDE – FARTHER BACK

A bicycle lies at the foot of an oak tree, and up up up in the tree sits:

CURLY MASON, 10.  A surly looking kid with a cruel glint in his eye.  He’s quietly watching the arrival of the Jorgensons.

INT. CAR – DAY

					SWEDE
			Check it out!  There is a house.

					ESSIE
			My God…

EXT. HOUSE – DAY

Car pulls up before the house.  All three exit the vehicle and stand looking around.  Unseen birds TWITTER.  Bees HUM.

Up close, the house is clearly in very bad shape.  Broken or missing windows.  Sagging porch standards.  Weeds growing up all around.  Behind screen door, the front door is partially open.

Unseen from front, the right rear of roof has fallen from old fire.

After a moment, Swede heads the party as they walk up onto the porch.

As Swede steps onto the porch, a board CRACKS beneath his foot and he nearly goes down.

					SWEDE
			Damn!  Watch where you walk.
Essie is very cautious on her crutches as:

Swede pulls RUSTY screen door open and peers inside.

					SWEDE (Cont’d.)
			It’s going to need work.
			But it’s a house.

					ESSIE
			That’s debatable.  Well…

Swede pushes the CREAKY door wider and steps in.

INT. HOUSE – DAY

Swede, holding Sissy by the hand and followed by Essie on her crutches, enters the dark and dusty house.

Interior is no better than the exterior.  There are four rooms on the main floor:  Left front, the entry, right front, the living room.  Left rear, the kitchen and right rear, the dining room.

On the left in entry a staircase leads to the second story.  Straight ahead the hall leads back to the kitchen. They walk about in a stunned awe, looking at the house.  Flowery wallpaper is torn and hanging in places.  Odds and ends of ancient and sagging furniture are scattered about.

					ESSIE
			Well, it’ll look better when we
			get it cleaned up a little.

					SISSY
			I have to go to the bathroom.

Swede takes a turn around but doesn’t see a bathroom.

					SWEDE
			I guess the bathroom’s upstairs.

They head for the stairs.  Essie clearly has difficulty.

UPSTAIRS HALL

The hall runs laterally across the house with doors opening to:  Three bedrooms.  The large bedroom runs along the front of the house.  In left rear bedroom, a broken-down iron bedstead is the only furniture.  The right rear bedroom has no roof.   A fire has destroyed the roof which has caved into the room.

					SWEDE
			Oh boy.  Don’t tell me.

					ESSIE
			What?  We can put plastic 
			on it can’t we?  For now?

					SWEDE
			I don’t mean that.  There’s 
			no bathroom.
				(beat)
			I think I saw an outhouse
			when we drove up.

					ESSIE
			An outhouse?  No…

					SWEDE
			It could be worse.

					ESSIE
			Worse?  I don’t see how
			it could get much worse.

					SWEDE
			We could still be back
			in Sacramento, broke and
			out of work.

					ESSIE
				(Sighs)
			It’s not going to be
			easy, cleaning up.  If
			I could get rid of these
			crutches…

SISSY
			Don’t worry, Mama.  I’m
			going to help you.

					ESSIE
			That’s my little girl.
				(To Swede)
			You better take her to the
			bathroom.  But check it out first.

INT. JORGENSON APARTMENT – DAY
			
Almost everything is packed up. Rita is sweeping the floor for Essie.
	
					ESSIE
			I’m going to miss you, Rita.

					RITA
			Listen, when you get settled,
			I’ll have a place to come
			relax on weekends.

					SISSY
			I’m getting a dog!

EXT. KNOWLES CROSSING – DAY

The Jorgenson car chugs through town towing a U-Haul trailer.

INT. SWEET ANTIQUES – DAY

A small shop, owned and operated by the SWEETS.

TANNER SWEET, 50.  Pleasant manner, pudgy and balding.

LEA SWEET, 50.  Not too slim either.  Motherly way.  Wears earrings: a ¾ caret EMERALD surrounded by tiny diamonds.

The store is jammed with antiques and collectibles.  Has very CREAKY wooden floor.  A small glass counter to one side toward the rear is filled with old watches, some jewelry and other small items: pocket knives, keys, etc.

Toward rear of shop, a large PARROT perches on his stand.  Tanner and Lea stand by the font window watching the Jorgenson car pass towing the trailer.

					LEA
There they go.  Our new neighbors.
			
					TANNER
			They won’t last long.

					LEA
			I imagine you’re right…

INT. JORGENSON HOUSE – DAY

UPSTAIRS HALL

Essie on crutches watching as Swede stands on a rickety chair, trying to work with the wiring in the hall light fixture.  Can’t get it working.  There is a trap door to attic in the ceiling.  Swede moves chair over and gets on it to open the attic door.

					ESSIE
				(Half humming)
			LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO
			HOPPING THROUGH THE
			FOREST…

As Swede sticks his head and a flashlight into the attic there is a sudden VIOLENT FLURRY as pigeons and bats burst into flight, many shooting down into the bedroom.

Sissy and Essie are ducking and cringing amid the storm of fowl and Swede loses his balance and comes tumbling down from the chair with a THUMP.

The FLURRY subsides.

					ESSIE
			Are you all right?

					SWEDE
			I guess I’ll live.  God.
			We’ve got bats and birds
			in our belfry.

					SISSY
			What’s a belfry?

They all laugh.

KITCHEN

Essie is peeling potatoes at the sink.  Out of the corner of her eye she sees a huge rat slip across the room and disappear into a hole in the wall.

She tries to go after it with one of her crutches when she hears a BANG on the kitchen screen door.  Through the screen door she sees a MALE FIGURE carrying a jug in one hand.

PARLEY MEEKER, 65.  Ugly and unshaven.  Parley wears an old work shirt, ragged overalls and a ratty hat over his dirty white hair.  Badly needs a shave and over all looks like a reject from the poor house.

					ESSIE
			Oh…

Parley BANGS again.

					PARLEY
			Open up little lady. I’m your
			friendly neighbor.

					ESSIE
			Oh…

Awkwardly on her crutches, she heads toward door as Swede comes out of the living room where he has been working.

					ESSIE (CONT’D)
				(To Swede)
			We’ve got company, honey.

She opens the door.  Parley, holding the jug down at his side, half staggers into the kitchen, stops and looks vaguely around at them.

PARLEY
			So you the damn fools done
			moved in here.  Nobody
			stays here.  Well, you got
			guts, I’ll say that.  This
			dump’s worse’n mine and 
			I can’t hardly even live in
			mine no more. ’Specially with
			them two bums I got for sons –
			sons of bitches, I should
			say.  Yep, that’s what they
			be.  I ain’t even too sure they mine.

He holds the jug out.

Swede steps into the room, uncertain.

					SWEDE
			Well…hello.  I – we
			weren’t expecting company, 
			Mr…?  I’m sorry, I guess
			I didn’t get your name.

					PARLEY
			A guesser hey?  Well, I 
			guess I didn’t give it to
			you, but hell, I’m friendly
			enough.  It’s Parley.  Parley
			Meeker, and I live just up
			the road there ‘bout three
			miles distant.  Speaking of
			friendly, I done brought over
			a little drink of my own
			personal Kool Aid to warm
			things up.

He holds the jug out even further and Swede takes it and places it on the kitchen table.

					SWEDE
			Well, I’m Ulf Jorgenson, but
			everybody calls me Swede.  And 
			this’s my wife, Essie.  I guess
			we’re going to be neighbors then.

PARLEY
			You just keep on guessin’, don’t you?

Essie pulls out a chair.

					ESSIE
			Here, Mr. – Parley.  Won’t
			you sit down?
Parley smiles showing bad teeth.  He shuffles forward and sits down on the chair.

					PARLEY
			What’s with the crutches, little
			lady?  The Swede here have to 
			set you straight?
				(To Swede)
			It all right to knock ‘em
			flat once in a while – they
			like it.  But you caint’ go 
			too far.   You do that, you
			likely end up having to
			do your own cooking’ and 
			washin’.  That’s what
			happened to me.

					SWEDE
			I didn’t – I – you mean
			you beat up your wife?

Parley pulls the cork from the jug and looks pointedly at Essie.  She heads to the shelf to find some glasses.

					PARLEY	
			Which one?  Oh hell, I
			reckon I had to beat the
			shit out all of ‘em
			one time or another.  I
			feel pretty bad about
			Minnie though.  I plumb
			forgot I was wearin’ a 
			new pair of them boots 
			with steel toes.
				(He sighs)
			She never was right after
			that.  Yep, she was the 
			last one.  Got the cancer later on.

SWEDE
			Yeah…
		
					PARLEY
			I used to know a Swede 
			once.  Every time you say
			somethin’ to him, he say,
			“Ya-hah.  Ya-hah.” Just
			like that.  I don’t think
			he had much sense.
				(beat)
			Yep, now I have to do
			everything:  cook, wash
			the clothes, throw out
			the garbage – shit, them
			two boys won’t hit a lick.
			I swear, if they was gold
			lying right here on the
			table, they be too lazy 
			to lean over and pick it up.

Essie places three glasses on the table and Parley pours thick brown liquid into two of them.
Parley holds out glasses to Swede and Essie.  She takes hers with one hand and places it back on the table.

					ESSIE
			Thanks, but I never drink
			anything more than – well,
			I’m just a Coca-Cola person.

Swede accepts his glass.  Parley was obviously going to take his straight from the bottle, but he picks up Essie’s glass instead.

					PARLEY
			That soda pop shit’ll give
			you a pot gut.  Worse than
			beer, little lady.  Take a
			word of wisdom from the old
			man who knows:  whiskey keep
			you lean – and it kill the
			germs.  And another friendly
			word:  If you smart you’ll
			pack up and say adios to
					(MORE)

					PARLEY (Cont’d.)
			Knowles Crossing and move on
			back to San Francisky or
			wherever it is you come from.

He holds his glass out and looks at it for a sec; then downs the entire contents.  Slaps the glass on the table and wipes his mouth on his sleeve.

Swede sips his and makes a face.  But he sips a bit more.

					SWEDE
			You don’t like strangers I
			take it.

			 		PARLEY
			Naw, naw, it ain’t that. But
			folks just never seem to be
			very comfortable in this
			old house.

					SWEDE
			You’re not going to tell me
			it’s haunted, are you?

					PARLEY
				(Almost takes offense)
			Don’ know about that, but
			it sure never brought good
			luck to nobody that I ever
			hear of.
				(Parley looks Swede over)
			Where you keep your gun?

					SWEDE
			Gun?  I don’t have any guns.

					PARLEY
				(Suspicious)
			You know – or you just guess
			you don’t have no guns?  Out
			here everybody got a gun.

SWEDE
			No – I – yeah, maybe I should
			get one, living out here in
			the country.

					PARLEY	
			Damn right.  I never go out
			without my old thirty-eight
			-fifty-five.  Make my own 
			bullets too.

Parley waves aimlessly toward the door.

			I done left it outside so’s
			not to frighten the little lady
			here.  I try to be a gentleman
			around the ladies.  But it ain’t
			always too easy, I’ll tell you
			that.  Drink up and I guess I’ll
			pour you another.

Parley pours himself another while Swede swallows a little more of the liquid fire.

Parley downs the contents of his glass just as:

					SISSY (OS)
			SCREAM…!!!

Swede leaps toward the door.

EXT. JORGENSON HOUSE – DAY

Parley’s old lever action rifle leans against the door jamb.  Beyond in the yard area, Sissy stands transfixed, staring at the rifle as if it were a rattlesnake.

					SWEDE
			Honey!  It’s all right, Honey.

He moves out toward Sissy and finally picks her gently up in his arms.

					SWEDE (Cont’d.)
			It’s all right.  There’s
			nothing to be afraid of.
			We just don’t touch guns,
			that’s all.  If we don’t 
			touch them, they can’t 
			hurt us.

He starts for the door.
					SISSY
			Not that door, Daddy.
			Take me to the other door.

					SWEDE
			Sure.  Okay. We’ll take
			the front door.  That’s 
			what we’ll do.

INT. KITCHEN – DAY

Swede and Sissy enter the kitchen from front of house.

					SWEDE
			It’s your rifle.  Sissy
			doesn’t like guns.

					PARLEY
			Guns is like the PO-lice,
			little girl.  You don’t 
			have to like ‘em but
			you do have to respect ‘em.
			And if you don’t be doin’
			nothing wrong, then I
			reckon you don’t have nothing
			to be afraid of, don’t you
			guess, Mr. eh, Swede?

					SWEDE
			I guess that makes sense.

					PARLEY
				(to Sissy)
			See, we pretty good guessers,
			you paw and me.

Sissy cheers up a little and laughs despite herself.

Parley stands up.  It’s clear he’s half drunk.

					PARLEY
			I’m headin’ home now.  I
			live just yonder, third
			road to the left when you 
			follow on up the road south.
			My house sittin’ right on
			top of the rise.  You stand
			on your roof, you can ‘bout
			see it from here.

Parley leaves through the kitchen door.

They watch Parley pick up his rifle and shuffle off out of sight.

					SWEDE
			About one more guessing crack 
out of him, and I was ready to 
break that thirty-eight-fifty-something 
over his thick head.

					ESSIE
			He’s drunk, Honey.

LATER

The kitchen looks a little better.  Open boxes stand around, some contain dishes etc.  Although hobbled by her crutches, Essie has done considerable work cleaning up.
Essie’s still cleaning and Swede is trying to get the old gas range into working condition.  Sissy is sitting at the table.

Swede lights a match and suddenly a flame pops up.

					SWEDE
			Houston, we have ignition!

					ESSIE
			Well thank heaven.  Cold
			food and take-out is getting old.

					SWEDE
			And expensive.

They hear a KNOCK from the front of the house.

FRONT HALL

A short swarthy MAN is standing at the open door.  He looks ugly and menacing; carries a long old Springfield bolt action rifle.
					SWEDE
			May I help you? 

The Man holds out his hand.

					MAN
			I’m your neighbor.  I’m
			Hector.  Hector Ramirez. 
			
					SWEDE
			Oh…well, come on in…
			Hector.  That – 

Swede points to Hector’s rifle.

					HECTOR
			Oh…I’ll just drop it here.

Hector enters and leans his rifle against the wall.

KITCHEN

Swede enters followed by Hector Ramirez
				
					SWEDE
			Hector, this is Essie and
			the short one here is
			Sissy.

					SISSY
			I’m not short.  Mama says
			I’m growing like a weed.
			I’m a Foo Foo.

					ESSIE
			Hi…

HECTOR
			I live just down the road a
			piece.  I caught sight of
			the car from up on the hill
			and thought I better come
			over and check.  Sometimes
			people like to come into
			these abandoned houses and
			tear them up.

					SWEDE
Well, I think nature beat
			them to it this time.
			But we’re getting it cleaned up.

					HECTOR
			Well, I’m glad to see
			somebody’s in here.  You
			folks didn’t just buy
			the place, did you?

					SWEDE
			No, why do you ask?

					HECTOR
			Oh, it’s been tied up in
			probate or something. Lot of 
people have inquired about it.  
Property just keeps going up.

		ESSIE
It belonged to my aunt.
			She passed away recently.
			It came down to me.

					HECTOR
			On…you mean the lady used
			to live here?  That was a
			while ago.  It’s been standing
			empty for a few years now.
			The old Villegas place.

					SWEDE
			Villegas place?

HECTOR
			That’s what people call it.
			Originally the Villegas had
			a land grant from the king
			of Spain.  Oh, they had a
			lot of territory around here,
			but then over the years it
			got cut up and sold off bit
			by bit.  But I think you still
			have fifteen or twenty acres
			here.  There ain‘t been a
			Villegas around here in a
			hundred years, but everybody
			still calls it the Villegas place.

					SISSY
			We got bats.

					ESSIE
			We’ve got birds and bats
			living in the attic.

					HECTOR
			That’s not so bad.  But you
			got to watch for skunks and
			raccoons – and snakes.
			They’ll move right in if you
			let them.  Speaking of skunks
			and snakes, watch out for the 
			Meeker gang.  I imagine you’ll
			be meeting them.

					SWEDE
			We met Parley Meeker already.
			You think this place might be
			easy to sell then?

A shot rings out BAM in the distance.

Sissy screams and grabs for her mother.

					HECTOR
			Oh that’s nothing, little
			girl.  Probably a hunter.
			Around here somebody
					(MORE)

					HECTOR (Cont’d.)
			accidentally shoots a deer
			now and then, according
			to necessity.

					SWEDE
			Is this deer season?

					HECTOR
			Around here it’s always deer
			season.  It’s pretty hard to
			catch a body up here.  County
			don’t have the manpower to
			police this place like they do
			in towns.  And some dumb fools
			shoot deer just for the fun of 
			it, too.  Leaving ‘em lying for
			the coyotes to eat.  I – 

					ESSIE
			Did you know my aunt at all,
			Mister…Hector?

					HECTOR
			Know her?  Your aunt?  Well, not
			all that well.  I remember her.
			Nice lady.  I helped her get
			the water running from the well
			when she come here.  Seems like
			she left very sudden.

					ESSIE
			That seems odd.

					HECTOR
			Well, maybe she got tired of
			the place.  And there was the
			fire.  Probably scared her.
			It can be pretty lonely up here.
			And some of our neighbors ain’t
			too nice. ‘Specially them Meekers.
			But their bark’s worse than their bite.

SWEDE
			I hope we’re not going to
			have trouble with them.
			I mean, we have twenty 
			acres here.  That should
			give us a buffer zone.

					SISSY
			I’m going to get a dog.

					ESSIE
			Well, maybe pretty soon.
			We’ll see.

INT. JORGENSON HOUSE – NIGHT

BURNT-OUT BEDROOM

Ceiling has been covered by sheets of plastic.

SISSY’S BEDROOM

Swede has fixed the old bed up for Sissy.  She’s cuddled down in her blankets.  The one light from ceiling is out.

FRONT BEDROOM

Swede and Essie lie in their bed.

					SWEDE
			Our first night in our
			lovely new home.

					ESSIE
			Well, I’m not too crippled
			to christen it.  Welcome to
			Knowles Crossing.

Swede gets up and pulls the cord on the bare ceiling bulb. He gets back under the covers and they kiss and begin fondling one another.

					SISSY (OS)
			Mama.  I’m scared.

Essie half sits up.

ESSIE
			Sissy.  I thought you were
			asleep.

					SISSY
			The walls won’t let me.

					SWEDE
			What are you talking about?
			The walls won’t let you?

He gets up and fumbles; finds the cord and lights the bulb.

					SISSY
			The walls.  They keep
			whispering.  It scares me.
			And there are fi’flies.
					ESSIE
			Fireflies?  Sissy, walls
			can’t talk.

					SWEDE
			Yeah, haven‘t you ever
			heard that old expression:
			If walls could talk?  Luckily
			for all concerned, they can’t.
			And they don’t.  It’s just
			the wind or something. Now
			you get back to bed.
			There’s nothing to be afraid of.
			We’re right here.

Sissy dutifully heads back out of the bedroom.  Essie lies back.  Swede starts to pull the cord, but hesitates, looking at the open window where a rag of curtain hangs limply.

					SWEDE (CONT’D)
			There’s no wind.

					ESSIE
			Well, I don’t know what drove
			Aunt Cecile away, but I don’t 
			believe in ghosts.

Nevertheless, Essie struggles to her feet.  Swede grabs flashlight and helps her and hands her the crutches and they head into: 

SISSY’S BEDROOM

Swede pulls the cord lighting the single bulb.
Sissy is back in her bed.

					SWEDE
			Are the walls still whispering?

					SISSY
				(Pointing)
			Yes.  Right over there.

Swede moves to the indicated place, near the window.  First he forces the window wide and peers out, flashing his light around. Nothing but crickets CHIRPING and, more distant, frogs CROAK.

Swede stands there for a beat, perplexed.

					ESSIE	
			What is it?

					SWEDE
			I do hear something.

He puts his ear to the wall and listens.  Finally he pounds on the wall a couple of times, and hears a real BUZZING.

			It sounds like bees.  I
			think it’s bees.

					ESSIE
			Oh my God…Come on, Sissy.
			You can sleep with us tonight.

In bed Essie begins humming to Sissy.

					ESSIE (CONT’D)
			LITTLY BUNNY FOO FOO
			HOPPPING THROUGH THE FOREST…
				(Sleepily)
					(MORE)

					ESSIE (Cont’d.)
			Oh yeah…SCOOPING UP LITTLE FIELD MICE
			AND BOPPING THEM ON THE HEAD…

Sissy laughs sleepily and closes her eyes.

EXT. JORGENSON HOUSE – DAY

A short MAN in beekeeper outfit is finishing up.

					MAN
			I normally don’t do this for free.
			But since you folks are already
running an uphill race, I’ll just
keep the bees for payment.  All 
right?

		ESSIE
I appreciate it.  We certainly
			have enough problems already.

As the man drives off with the bees in his pickup truck, Swede SNORTS.

					SWEDE
			Bees!  Who would’ve thought?
			I guess we could’ve left them
			in the wall and sold the honey.

					ESSIE
			Never mind.  There has to
			be an easier way to make a
			little money.

INT. O’CONNELL’S COIN AND STAMP STORE – DAY

A small musty antique shop that deals primarily in coins, paper money, stamps and ephemera.  CREAKY floor. 

WES O’CONNELL, 50.  Medium-size, clean-cut studious little man wearing glasses.  He stands in the open front door watching the Jorgenson car pass.  Strokes his chin, thinking.

EXT. THE CROSSING CAFÉ – DAY

Like most of the buildings, this is an elderly brick building on Knowles Crossing’s main (and almost only) street, a narrow two-lane highway that wanders along through some of the old mining towns in the foothills.

Windows to either side of door.  Small signs in windows read:  Breakfast all Day.  Fresh Ground Hamburgers.  Home-Made Pies.

The Jorgensons approach the café.

INT. CAFÉ – DAY

Although efforts have been made to freshen and modernize the deep narrow café, it’s still run-down; dated, but not really out of place in this funky little town.

Walls are covered with small framed photographs taken over the years in and around Knowles Crossing.

Counter on left going in, and booths along right wall.

SHERIFF PRESTON TROUP, 48.  Big and husky, seated at counter.

DUTCH, 40’s.  The cook and owner.  Big chunky fellow with a paunch.  He always wears a white T shirt and white pants with huge pink Hawaiian floral pattern on them.  He wears a floppy chef’s hat on his raggedy head and needs a shave.

JUDY, 40’s.  Waitress.  A bit frumpy, but friendly enough.  Constantly chews gum.

A few CUSTOMERS, mostly tourists who come up to poke around in the antique stores and view the countryside.

The Jorgensons are seated in a booth.  Essie has a Coke.  Swede has coffee and apple pie while Sissy is eating a small dish of ice cream.

SISSY
			It smells like onions in here.

					SWEDE
			Well, it’s a restaurant, honey.
			Good pie.  It really is home made.

Judy stops at their booth.

					JUDY
			Everything all right, folks?

					ESSIE
			Oh – yes.  fine…thanks.

					SWEDE
			Great pie.

					JUDY
			Dutch is famous for his
			pies.  You folks don’t look
			like your typical tourists –
			you must be the people from
			the Villegas place.

					ESSIE
			Actually yes.  I mean, we are.  
We just moved into the area.

 					SISSY
			Yeah, we ‘herited a house.
			A really old house.  With
			bees.  And I’m getting a dog.

					JUDY
			You inherited a house 
			with bees?  Oh sure, you’re
			the folks with the bees.

					ESSIE
			You heard about that.

					JUDY
			News travels like
			lightening around here.

Sheriff finishes and puts some money on counter.  He approaches Jorgenson table.

					JUDY (Cont’d.)
			We got some new blood, Preston.
			This’s Preston Troup.  Our local
			law and order.

Swede accepts the sheriff’s outstretched hand.

					SWEDE
			I’m Ulf and this’s Essie and
			Sissy.  I guess we’ll be living up here.

					SHERIFF
			Where’s that?

					SWEDE
			It’s called the Villegas 
place. It’s just north of 
town. It belonged to Essie’s 
aunt. I’m not sure of the address.

		SHERIFF
Oh sure.  You’re the folks
with the bees.

		JUDY
Cecile Holden was your aunt?

		ESSIE
Why yes.  Cecile was my
aunt.  I didn’t even know 
she lived up here.  You 
knew her?

		JUDY
			Well, we weren’t really
			friends, as such.  But she
			used to come in from time to
			time.  Very nice lady.  I
			always wondered about her.
			I think maybe she left bec –

The MEEKER BOYS barge into the café.

CLETUS “SMILEY” MEEKER, 40.  Smiley is one ugly critter.  On the skinny side, he usually has a big stupid grin revealing terrible teeth.

ADALBERT “ADDIE” MEEKER, 39. Smiley’s brother.  Except for being a little fatter around the middle, he’s a Meeker from head to toe.  Addie, unlike Smiley, seldom smiles and when he talks he mumbles so it’s IMPOSSIBLE  to understand what he’s saying.

					SHERIFF
			You boys drunk again?
			You look drunk.

Dutch is not happy to see them, but continues cooking.

A couple of CUSTOMERS get up and pay their checks, clearly uncomfortable in the presence of these two bums.

					SMILEY
			Drunk?  We ain’t never drunk.
			But we surely try.  Don’t we Addie?

					ADDIE
				(No one but Smiley 
				understands him)
			I don’t git drunk.

					JUDY
			Well, what do you want?  
We don’t serve any 
			moonshine here.

					SMILEY
			You got beer.  It gittin’
			right hot out there.
			Me and Addie here, we
			thought we might just catch
			a cold one.

Smiley notices Sissy.

			Why hello, little girl.
				
Smiley leans over close.

SISSY
			Ooh, you didn’t brush. He
			didn’t, did he Mama?

Essie and Swede are embarrassed and uncomfortable. 

					ESSIE
			You’ll have to excuse my
			daughter, sir.  She’s – 

					SMILEY
			Oh, no need for that, Ma’am.
			Little girls cain’t do no wrong.
			Besides, little girl, if you
			had to eat my old man’s cookin’,
			you’d have strong breath too.
			That and his Kool Aid.  No sir.
			Well, I’m Smiley.  They calls
			me that because I’m always smilin’.
			I smile even when I’m mad.
				(beat)
			I don’t rightly know why I do that.

Smiley straightens and looks toward Addie.

			This here’s my baby brother,
			Addie.  His real name’s
			Adalbert.  That’s a very
			elegant name, but he think it
			sound sissy.  He never smile.
			He embarrassed ‘cause he got
			bad teeth.  He don’t want 
			nobody to notice them. 

					SWEDE
				(Gulps his coffee)
			Well, nice to meet you, boys.
				(To Essie and Sissy)
			‘Bout ready to go?

He begins easing out of the booth, but Smiley doesn’t move out of his way.  Just stands idiotically there smiling.  The sheriff nudges him.  He moves slightly.

Essie and Sissy slide out of their side.

SWEDE (Cont’d.)
			‘Scuse me…Smiley.

					SMILEY
			You ain’t leaving ‘count of
			me and Addie, I hope.

					SWEDE
			Oh no. We just got lots to do at home.

					ADDIE
			Them the new folks at the Villegas place.

					 SMILEY
			He say you must be the new folks
			moved in at the Villegas place.
					ESSIE
			Yes…yes, we’re the new folks.

Swede manages to get out of the booth and straighten up.

					SHERIFF
			Yeah, that place’s been vacant
			for a while now.  No wonder you 
had bees.

					SMILEY
			We was born right here in Knowles 
Crossing.
				(Points)
			See that pitcher on the 
			wall over there?

He staggers over to a framed photograph.

PHOTO shows a horse and wagon in front of a building.  A MAN seated at reins and two BOYS, one beside the man and the other standing in the wagon with a dog.

					SMILEY (CONT’D)
			See this.  This’s my grandpa
			and sitting longside him,
			that’s my old man.  The other
			kid with the mutt there, he
			was my uncle, but he done passed.

ADDIE
			Passed out…

					SMILEY
			Yeah, that right, Addie.
			When I say passed, I mean
			he passed out.  Passed out
			at the wheel and drove right
			into the crick one night.  
			And the old man, he would’ve
			drownded with him ‘cept he was
			so drunk he done fell out of the
			pickup before it hit the water.
			Heh heh heh.

Essie examines the photo.
					ESSIE
			My, you men are really part
			of the town’s history.

Swede busies himself paying the check.

					SMILEY
			Yep, you might say we
			hysterical all right.

					ADDIE
			Histerically, not hysterical…
				
					SMILEY
			Goddam it Addie, don’t
			you be trying to correct
			me in public.  I done
			told you ‘bout that.

					SWEDE
			We’ll see you all later.
			Come on Ladies.

The Jorgensons head for the door.  The sheriff heads for the door as well.

					SHERIFF
			You boys behave now, hear?

SMILEY (OS)
			Two Buds, Judy.  And make
			‘em cold as your heart.

INT. CAR – DAY

Car turns off highway into GRAVEL road that leads to house.

					ESSIE
			Hysterical.

					SWEDE
			I didn’t see anything
			hysterical about those 
			boys.  Couple of drunken
			troublemakers if ever I saw
			any.  Just like their old man.

					SISSY
			I don’t like those men.

					SWEDE
			Well, I wasn’t crazy about
			them either, Sweetheart.
			Luckily, we don’t have to
			see them every day.

					ESSIE
			I wonder what Judy – I mean
			I think Judy was about to
			tell us something about
			aunt Cecile when those
			clowns came barging in.  I
			almost think she had an
			idea of what drove Aunt
			Cecile to leave here.

					SWEDE
			Maybe the bees drove her
			off – or maybe the house
			is haunted.

					ESSIE
			That’s not funny.  Don’t be giving
			Sissy anything else to deal with.

					ESSIE (Cont’d.)
			God, it’s bad enough with rats and
			bats and squirrels and pigeons
			and bees.  And I killed two 
			black widows this morning.
			Right in back, by the restroom.

					SWEDE
			Well, don’t worry.  Any ghost
			who’d be dumb enough to haunt
			that house, is no match for
			the bees and other critters,
			right Sissy Girl?
					
					SISSY
			I wouldn’t be afraid of a
			ghost if it was like Casper.

					SWEDE
			Well, ghosts have better
			things to do, believe me.

INT. SWEET’S ANTIQUES – DAY

The door opens and the Jorgensons enter; Essie still on crutches.

The Sweets are sitting at the rear of the store. Tanner has the bird on his shoulder.  He rises and comes toward the front.

					TANNER
			Good morning.  Welcome to
			Sweet’s Antiques. Anything
			special you were looking for?

					SWEDE
			Not exactly.  We – we’re
			new in town.  Just looking
			around.  Thought we’d take
			a look at the antiques.

While Swede talks, Essie looks at various pieces of furniture.  Most are older, some Victorian.  Some look pretty ratty.

Tanner points to sign on the wall that says:

			WE BUY JUNK AND SELL ANTIQUES.
Tanner LAUGHS.

					TANNER	
			Well, of course there’s
			antiques and there are
			antiques.  We say antiques,
			but a lot of this falls
			more into the realm of
			collectibles.  Heh heh,
			everybody collects something.
			That’s what I always say,
			don’t I, Lea?

Lea Tanner rises and comes forward.

					LEA
			That’s what he always
			says, all right.  Says
			it a little too often,
			if you ask some people.
			You must be the folks who
			moved up recently – up at
			the Villegas place.  The
			place with the bees?

					PARROT
			I can talk.  Can you fly?

SURPRISED LAUGHTER

					LEA
			That’s Lester.  Don’t let
			him intimidate you; besides,
			he’s a liar.  He can’t fly.
			We keep his wings clipped.

The LAUGH.
					SWEDE
			Boy, everybody in town’s 
			heard about the bees.
			News does travel fast
			around here, I see.

TANNER
			It’s just a little town.
				(Extends hand) 
			I’m Tanner Sweet, and
			this sweet thing is 
			Lea Sweet.  Married
			forty-two years and
			never a spat.  Never.

Swede takes Tanner’s outstretched hand.

					LEA
				(With loving glance at Tanner)
			Well, hardly ever.

Essie smiles.

					ESSIE
			I’m Essie Jorgenson,
			and this is Ulf, but
			everyone calls him Swede.

					SISSY
			I’m Sissy.

Tanner bends down and takes Sissy’s hand.

					TANNER
			Well, I’m very pleased
			to make you acquaintance,
			Sissy.  Hope you’ll like
			it here in Knowles Crossing.
				(Looks up at Essie)
			Were you in an accident?

					ESSIE
			A car knocked me down.  But
			it isn’t too serious.
				(To Lea)
			I love your earrings.  That’s
			the May birthstone, isn’t it?

					LEA
			Yes.  Emeralds for May and
			diamonds just because I like ‘em.

TANNER
			I’m sorry to hear that.
			I mean, I’m not sorry
			to hear it’s not serious.
			I’m sorry you had to
			have it – the accident, 
			I mean.  Did I say what
			I was trying to say – or
			am I dithering?

					LEA
				(Good humor)
			Try to ignore him.
			That’s what I do.

Tanner straightens and addresses Swede:

					TANNER
			Well, we’ve been here five
			years now.  But we’re only
			open half the time. When
			we’re not in the mood to
			open, we just put the closed
			sign in the window and hop
			in the car.

					SWEDE
			Hop in the car?

					TANNER
			Yep.  We just hop in the 
			car and ride around enjoying 
			the countryside.

Lea rummages around behind the counter.  Comes up with a little old doll.

					LEA
			Here, Sissy.  I’ve been
			saving this for someone
		   	just like you.

Sissy reluctantly takes the doll.  It’s old and a bit ratty.

LEA (Cont’d.)
			It’s very old.  You’ll have
			to take special care of it.

Essie looks pointedly at Sissy. Sissy is not thrilled by this doll, but she bucks up and tries to put on a happy face. 

					SISSY
			Thank you.

					LEA
			Whatever am I thinking about?
			Listen, why don’t you folks come
			over for dinner tonight?  We can
			get acquainted.  We live just
			upstairs here.

The Jorgensons aren’t quite sure how to respond.
				
					TANNER
			Leah makes mighty good
			fried chicken – and
			biscuits.

EXT. THE CROSSING CAFÉ – DAY

Essie hobbles in and stops inside door.  Judy comes over.

					ESSIE
			Oh hi, Judy.

					JUDY
			Good morning.  Do you want a booth, 
or is the counter all right?

					ESSIE
			Oh – actually, I just wanted
			to ask you a question.

					JUDY
			A question?

ESSIE
			When we were in here before,
			you acted like my Aunt Cecile
			left for some reason…

					JUDY
			Oh…that.  I don’t know.
			I’ve got a big mouth.  I don’t
			really know.  I do feel she
			was frightened of something.
			At first it was just vague,
			but I think she had the impression
			that someone wanted to drive her
			out.  Then after the fire…

					ESSIE
			Was there an investigation?

					JUDY
			Of the fire?  I never heard
			of one.  All I know is that she
			just up and left town.

INT. SWEET HOME ABOVE STORE – NIGHT

KITCHEN

Lea finishes spooning mashed potatoes from a KFC container into an old china bowl.  Wastebasket in corner contains VISIBLE KFC bucket and other KFC containers.

LIVING/DINING ROOM
	
Small and comfortable.  Oil cloth on table.  The Jorgensons are seated with Sweets around table laden with platters: fried chicken, cole slaw, mashed potatoes, pickles, olives, biscuits and jam, etc.  Wine.  Milk.

Lester on his perch in b.g.

					ESSIE
			It was really thoughtful
			of you to invite us over
			for dinner tonight.  This
			has been great.

TANNER
			Lea loves to cook.
	
					ESSIE
			Soon as we get properly
			settled, we’ll have you
			folks over to our place
			for dinner.

					SISSY
			Yeah, mama makes good
			pusghetti.  This tastes
			just like Colonel Sanders.

					ESSIE
			Sissy!

	Lea LAUGHS
		
					LEA
			Never mind.  I’ll take
			that as a compliment, Sissy.

					SWEDE
			Anyway, it’s spaghetti,
			Sissy.  Spaghetti.

					LESTER
			I can talk.  Can you fly?

LAUGHTER

					TANNER
			Knock it off, Lester.
			Never mind him.  Hey, I
			called it pusghetti till I
			was thirty-five.

					ALL
			LAUGHING…

					TANNER (Cont’d.)
			Yes, we had a good life
			in San Francisco, but one day
			we came up here and found this
					(MORE)

					TANNER (Cont’d.)
			little store standing empty,
			and –

					LEA
			It called out to us.

					TANNER
			That’s right.  It did.  It
			called out to us.  I
			sold my insurance brokerage
			and two months later, here
			we were.  We’ve never regretted
			it either, have we, Lea?

					LEA
			Never for a minute.  Besides,
			we have our freedom. Some days
			we open, and others, we just
			say, heck with it and
			we hop in the car and go
			out for a ride around the
			countryside.  I guess we told
			you that.  Besides, San
			Francisco’s gone crazy, if
			you know what I mean.

					ESSIE
			Well, it always has been a
			a bawdy town, ever since the
			days of the gold rush.

					ALL
			LAUGHTER…

					ESSIE
			Did you know my aunt?

					LEA
			Oh, yes, your aunt.  What
			was her name?  Cecile?

					ESSIE
			That’s her.

LEA
			Not really. I mean, we knew
			who she was.  In this town
			everybody knows who everybody
			else is.  I think she came in
			a couple of times, but I don’t
			recall her buying anything.

					ESSIE
			Well, some people have the
			impression she was frightened
			away.

					TANNER
			Frightened away?  Well, we
			do have lots of wildlife – 
			aside from the Meekers –

					ALL
			LAUGHTER…

					TANNER (CONT’D)
-	and of course she had a
fire up there.  I remember
			that.  But otherwise…
			But we both like that place.
			Had you folks though of 
			selling?

					SWEDE
			Well, we just got here.  We
			did think maybe of dividing 
			it up or something.  I guess
			it’s too early to know exactly
			what we’re going to do.

					TANNER
			You’d have to check zoning. Some
			of these properties can’t be
			divided any more – not without
			a lot of council meetings and
			permits.  But if the price was right, 
			We might be able to do something.

					ESSIE
			Well, it’s nice of you to offer.

EXT. SWEET’S STORE - NIGHT

Quiet.  Few TOURISTS still wandering about.

Swede shakes Tanner’s hand.

Everybody is saying good-bye, thanks for the dinner, etc.  as the Jorgensons get into their car.

					TANNER
				(To Essie)
			Listen, even on crutches
			if you felt like it, you
			could come in once in a
			while and watch the store
			for us – while we’re out
			and about…I mean, we
			couldn’t pay a lot, but…

					ESSIE
			Well!  That’s very generous
			of you, Tanner.  Yes, maybe
			I could.  I’ll think about it.

INT. JORGENSON BEDROOM – NIGHT

Essie leaning on her crutches at the dark window.  In the distance bits of light flicker occasionally.  She turns awkwardly.

					ESSIE
			Swede!  I don’t think it’s
			fireflies Sissy sees; it’s
			something else.

Swede sits up on the mattress, wiping his eyes.

EXT. JORGENSON HOUSE – DAY

Gunfire BAM in distance.  Swede has been working on roof.  Sissy playing on porch. Sissy jumps up SCREAMING and runs in to her mother as:

Essie hobbles to door.

ESSIE
			What was that?

					SWEDE
			Deer hunters, I guess.
			I’d go check around, but
			when people are out hunting
			deer it may not be safe.
			Don’t let Sissy go wandering
			off.
				(beat)
			I’ll look into it.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

Swede’s car pulls up at entrance to the dirt road that leads up to the Meeker house.  Swede exits car and walks up the rise.  Roof of the house is barely visible in the distance.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

Despite warnings, Sissy runs off into countryside with a little stick, poking at scrubby shrubs, flowers, etc.
She does a little hop once in a while as she softly sings:

					SISSY
			LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO
			HOPPIN’ THROUGH THE FOREST,
			SCOOPIN’ UP little…

Sissy stops short as she sees a bright glint in the grass.  She picks something up and studies it when she’s brought up short by:  

The menacing sound of a RATTLE.

Sissy looks; then sees it:  A coiled rattlesnake only a few feet away, its RATTLES are shaking furiously.  Sissy GASPS, petrified

MAN’S VOICE (LUC LABORDE OS – French accent)
			Bouge pas – do not move.

A gunshot BAM and the rattlesnake’s head EXPLODES. Sissy SCREAMS, covering her ears and dropping to the ground as if shot as well.

LUC LABORDE, 60’S.  Tanned, weathered face.  Graying hair and a Chevalier smile.  Tweed jacket, open collar, no tie; 
cords.  He wears a tweed cap.  He has a long barrel .22 target pistol. 

Laborde crouches over Sissy.

					LUC
			There there, petite.  It is
			of no consequence.  The danger
			he is past.
				(Helps her rise)
			Now then, it is all right?

Sissy is still petrified.  She can’t seem to find her voice.

					LUC (Cont’d.)
			You are all right.  Come
			now.  Speak to me, tell
			old Luc that it is all
			right now.

					SISSY
			I – I –

					LUC
			You are very lucky, young 
			lady.  This snake he is
			dangerous.  Why do you
			walk out here all alone?

					SISSY
			I – I live here.  I don’t
			like guns.  I – are – are
			you hunting deer?

					LUC 
			Deer?  Oh no, not at all.
			I do not kill our furry 
			little friends, the animals.
					(MORE)

					LUC (Cont’d.)
			Mais non.  Mais non. I have the
			small cabin on the other side.
			I come out here to practice on
			the targets.  Perhaps this
			is not my land…

					SISSY
			Practice on the…

					LUC
			Ah yes, I have many medals
			for the targets.  I have
			the Olympic Gold Medal you
			know.  With the pistol I am 
			imbattable.

					SISSY
			Imba –

					LUC
			This means I am the champion.
			They call me Lucky Luke, but
			it is not of luck.  Ah no, 
no; pas du tout.  Watch.  You
see this branch over there?

He points to a long branch that straggles out from an oak tree at some distance.

					SISSY
			Yes.
					
					LUC
			Watch.  I break it in half.

Luc takes an unfamiliar stance:  With his left hand in his trouser pocket, he stands casually, leaning slightly back and holds the long .22 target pistol in his right hand, his elbow bent down in a V and with the pistol at some distance from his eyes, but at eye level.  He casually aims.

					SISSY
				(Covers ears)
			Oh no!...

Too late.  the pistol fires BAM and the branch snaps neatly off and flies to the ground as:
Sissy jumps and SCREAMS.

					LUC
			Ah là là, ma petite.  But let
			me assure you, this is of no
			danger to you.  If you permit,
			I will show you.

Slowly Luc calms Sissy.  His voice has a very reassuring and calming effect.
			The gun, he is like the rock.

He points at a rock; then places the pistol on the ground.

			Look at this.  The rock, she lies
			there on the ground.  She will
			never move.  We must move her,
			you see.  And the pistol, this 
			is – pareil – eh, the same.  He
			is the same as the rock.  He
			will not move…(voice fades…)

And in a slow fade they are sitting on the ground as Luc shows the pistol to a now-captivated Sissy, and, in his calm and charming French accent, explains how it functions.

EXT. MEEKER HOUSE – DAY

Ratty old single story house with veranda around all sides.  Rusty farm machinery lying around.  A couple of rusted-out ancient cars overgrown with weeds; general decay.  A number of old chairs furnish the front porch.  Jeeter Lester would be too proud to live here.

Parley Meeker is sitting on the porch, his rifle leaning against the wall beside him.  He’s eating a huge red pepper as he watches Swede slowly approaching in the noon-day sun.  A mangy old coon hound lies on the porch at Parley’s feet.  The dog doesn’t even glance up.

Swede is close now.

					SWEDE
			Howdy, Mr. Meeker.

PARLEY
			You guessin’ howdy, or
			you really mean howdy?

					SWEDE
			I really mean it.
				(Smiles, trying to be friendly)
			I guess.

					PARLEY
			Well, a man can laugh at 
			hisself cain’t be all bad.
			come on up and sit a spell.

					SWEDE
			Dog’s not dangerous is he?

					PARLEY
			Dusty?  Haw.  He lazier than my boys.
			That Dusty too lazy to bite his own fleas.

Swede mounts the three steps and takes a chair beside Parley.

					PARLEY (Cont’d.)
			This business or pleasure?

					SWEDE
			Well, matter of fact, it
			is sort of business –

					PARLEY
			You guess.

					SWEDE
				(Forcing a laugh)
			Yeah, I guess it is.  It’s
			just that I guess your boys
			have been hunting over on
			my property and –

					PARLEY
			Hunting?  My boys?

SWEDE
			Well, it’s not – I mean, 
			I don’t care if they do a 
			little hunting – on my place
			or anyplace else for that
			matter.  It’s just my
			daughter, Sissy – she’s 
			deathly afraid of gunfire.
			When she hears those guns
			go off it just terrorizes her.

PARLEY
			Whatever’s the matter with
			her, your daughter?  How come
			she so feared of guns?

					SWEDE
			Well, it’s – actually
			there was an – incident…

INT. CONVENIENCE STORE – DAY

Essie and Sissy are in rear of the store picking up a quart of milk and a couple of little things when TWO GUNMEN burst in the front.

PAKISTANI CLERK at register.

					SWEDE (Cont’d. VO)
			My wife and Sissy just went in
			a store to get a couple of things when –

					FIRST GUNMAN
				(To clerk)
			Open the drawer!  Open it up else
			I pop a cap up in your stinky ass.
			Open it, motherfucker!

Second gunman stands near door, gun ready.

Before anyone can react, the clerk comes up with Dirty Harry’s .44 Magnum and he and the first gunman start a small war:  BAM BAM BAM BAMMITY BAM!

Essie pulls Sissy to floor and lies on top of her, but it is over as suddenly as it started.

The first gunman lies on the floor in a spreading pool of blood.  The second gunman fires wildly BAM and hits the door.  He disappears while the clerk sags on the counter, trying to dial a cell phone with his bloody fingers.

BACK TO PRESENT

					SWEDE
			It was pretty awful.  One
			man shot dead and the clerk
			nearly died too.  Last I
			heard he was supposed to
			live.  But it really
			traumatized little Sissy.
			All that loud gunfire in a
			little store – and the blood.

					PARLEY
				(Swallowing pepper)
			Chile need to get used to 
			gunfire.  They always gone
			be gunfire, you be asking me.

					SWEDE
			Yes, I know.  But I thought
			if you could ask your boys
			to do their hunting a little 
			farther away from –

					PARLEY
			‘Twarn’t my boys.

					SWEDE
			What’s that?

					PARLEY
			‘Twarn’t my boys.  You a
			bit deef are you?  Listen,
			I can guarantee you my
			boys way too lazy to think
			about going on the hunt
			for anything more than the
			bottle I hid away.  And they
			found that more than once,
			the little bastards, I can
			tell you.

SWEDE
			Your boys don’t hunt?

					PARLEY
			That’s what I been sayin”

					SWEDE
			You think maybe they were
			just target shooting or
			something?

					PARLEY
			Them?  Hah!  I cain’t even
			git ‘em to help a bit. I have
			to do all the cookin’ around
			here.  And I’m their paw.  Nope,
			them boys be way too lazy to 
			hunt, shoot at targets or
			anything much else I can think
			of.  I want a deer I have to
			go fetch it myself.  They even
			too lazy to git out and find a
			wife.  
				(Shakes his head)
			It ain’t natural, I tell you.
			Besides, I make my own bullets
			‘round here and if I catch ‘em
			wastin’ my good lead on target
			practice, I can still give them
			a stroppin’.
				(beat)
I sure’s hell can.  Don’t you
			forgit that.

					SWEDE
				(Rising)
			There have been lights at
			night too, like somebody’s
			out there wandering around.
			But if it isn’t your boys,
			I guess I’ll have to look
			someplace else.

PARLEY
			There you go, guessin’ again.
			Maybe somebody down by the 
creek hunting frogs. Folks
do that at night.
	(Pulls bottle from down beside chair)
Here, have a swig of this and
I’ll tell you where you should
be lookin’. 

		SWEDE
I better not.  I’m driving.

		PARLEY
What you goin’ to run in to
out here ‘ceptin’ maybe a
skunk?  Besides, you won’t get
drunk.  I ain’t that generous
with my Kool Aid.

Parley takes a healthy swing and wipes the neck on his dirty sleeve before passing the jug over to Swede.  Swede is doubtful, but take a small swig of the searing liquid.

					PARLEY
			Want my opinion, it was
			that Mex, Hector Ramirez.
			He like frog legs. And he
			always be snoopin’ around
			where he don’t belong. And
			he always packing that old thirty
			caliber Springfield.  That’s a
			long range weepon.
				(Looks pointedly at Swede)
			‘Course a man’s a fool to be
			walkin’ ‘round out here without 
no iron.

					SWEDE
				(Rising)
			I think you’ve got a good idea,
			Mr. Meeker.  Maybe I will look
			into getting me a rifle or
			something.

PARLEY
			Well don’t you go buying no
			damn twenty-twos.  Amateurs
			always buy them pea-shooters.
			Git something with a little
			hot sauce on the side.

					SWEDE
			Thanks.  I’ll remember that.
			Well, good-bye for now, and
			thanks for the drink.

					PARLEY
			Come back any time.  Heh heh,
			just make sure we hear you
			coming so we don’t have no
			accidents.

INT. JORGENSON HOUSE – DAY

KITCHEN

Sissy comes running letting the screen door SLAM behind her.

					SISSY
			Mama, I almost got bit
			by a rattlesnake.

					ESSIE
			My God!  Where have you been? A – 

					SISSY
			It’s all right.  Luc killed
			it.  Look Mommy! Look what
			I found this morning.

She holds out a misshapen silver coin.

					ESSIE
			Luc?  Who’s Luc?

					SISSY
			Oh, he’s a nice old man.
			But he talks funny.  Look.

ESSIE
				(Looking closer)
			Where in the world did you
			get that? From Luc?

					SISSY
				(Vaguely)
			No. I found it out there.
			I was playing and I just
			found it in the grass.
			Isn’t it pretty?

LATER

Swede is examining the coin.

					SWEDE
			You know better than to
			be out there talking to
			strangers.  Lord knows
			what kind of weirdos are
			wandering around.  I thought
			Sacramento was bad, but after 
			seeing the Meekers – and that
			Ramirez character – and hunters…

					SISSY
			But Luc’s nice, Daddy.
			And he’s teaching me
			about guns…

					SWEDE
			Guns?  Listen, no more talking
			to strangers.  Especially strangers 
who try to scare you with guns.

					SISSY
			But Daddy –

					SWEDE
			No buts.  Promise?

					SISSY
			All right.  I promise.

Swede returns to examining the coin.

SWEDE
			This is old, but I can’t figure what
 			it is. There’s a coin dealer in town.  
I’ll take it in and ask him about it.

					SISSY
			Are you going to sell it?

					SWEDE
			Well, if it’s worth something.
			Maybe I can get you a nice
			doll.  Would you like that?

					SISSY
			A doll?  Okay.

Sissy runs off.
					ESSIE
			She took that well.  Do you
			think it’s worth some money?

					SWEDE
			I think so.  I mean, this’s
			silver for sure.  The only
thing I can make out for
			sure is the date, 1656 – 
			or maybe it’s 1626.

					ESSIE
			Well, anything silver that
			old ought to be worth something.

					SWEDE
			I’ll take to the dealer
			and let him see it.

					ESSIE
			It is pretty.  If we didn’t
			need the money so bad, we
			could make a pendent for Sissy.

SISSY’S BEDROOM

Sissy digs into the pocket of her jeans and pulls out another, smaller, out-of-round coin.  A gold coin.

Sissy holds the coin up and smiles.  She opens drawer of her little chest and slips the coin inside beneath some clothing.

KITCHEN

A shadowy figure slips past windows around the Jorgenson house until suddenly at open kitchen window, Essie looks up startled out of her wits at:

A smiling Hector Ramirez.

					ESSIE
			Oh, you – I wasn’t –

					HECTOR
			I didn’t mean to frighten you,
			Ms…

He holds up a little black puppy.

					HECTOR (CONT’D)
			My Tillie has eleven
			pups.  Your little girl
			said something about a dog.
			I thought maybe she’d like
			this little feller.

					ESSIE
			Oh – oh, it’s cute.  Well,
			won’t you come in, Mr. Ramirez?
			SISSY!  Sissy, come in here.

As Hector enters through kitchen door, Sissy comes running into kitchen from front.

					SISSY
			Oh!

					HECTOR
			Here, I brought you a 
			little puppy.  He’s a Lab
-	or something.

SISSY
			Oh!  Mamma, can I keep him?

ESSIE
			Well, we did promise you a 
			dog.  Don’t forget to
			thank Mr. Ramirez.

					SISSY
			Oh, thank you.  Thank you.

She takes the puppy and holds it lovingly.

					HECTOR
			What’re you going to call him?

					SISSY
			Foo Foo.  I’m going to call
			him Foo Foo.

They LAUGH.

EXT. JORGENSON HOUSE – NIGHT

A pale moon lights the house.  In the distance there is a faint shadowy movement around the barely visible propane tank…

Then a sudden spark and a moment later, a TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION as the propane tank erupts into an expanding BLAST of fire, turning night into day.

Swede comes running out of house in underwear.  He stops and runs back in, YELLING:

					SWEDE
			Essie!  Sissy!  Sissy!

LATER

It is dawn at the Jorgenson house.  The fire is out now, a smoking ruin.  The volunteer fire truck is just leaving and the Jorgensons stand forlornly in front of their house.

					ESSIE
			Well, we’re lucky it
			didn’t get to the house.

SWEDE
			Yeah, we are at that.

INT. O’CONNELL’S COIN SHOP – DAY

Wes O’Connell studies the coin under a big glass.

					WES
			Yes.  This is an old Spanish
			cob.  Almost certainly minted
			in Mexico.  The inscription is
			in Latin, but I know what it says.
			It says, Ferdinand Six, by the 
			Grace of God, Kind of Spain and 
			the Indies.  It’s a Spanish
			dollar.

					SWEDE
			Wow.  No wonder I couldn’t –
			is it still worth something?
			I mean, it’s so beat up and
			misshapen.  Maybe it was in
			a fire.  There was a house fire 
out where I live a while back.

		WES
Oh no.  No, these coins were
made by hand so they never
came out perfectly round in the 
first start.  Besides, this was
supposed to be a dollar’s worth
of silver, so after they formed 
it, they weighed it.  If it was a
little heavy, they’d shave off a 
bit till it had the right weight.
	(Smiles)
There’s a lot of interesting
history connected with coins.
			After these came into circulation,
			lots of people got in the
			habit of chiseling off a tiny
			bit of every coin they got.
			Pretty soon they’d have an extra 
			dollar’s worth of silver.  I hear
			that’s how the name chiseler
			got started.

Swede LAUGHS.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

Both wearing different clothing, Luc and Sissy are seated Indian style on the ground while Luc explains different parts of his pistol.  Sissy is clearly more comfortable with the weapon now.  Then Luc pulls an object from his pocket.

An OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL.

					LUC
			This.  This is for the rapid fire,
			and the fifty meter pistol.
			Ahh…I was – I still am, im –

					SISSY
			Imbattable!

They LAUGH at Sissy’s memory and good imitation of Luc’s accent.  

Still LAUGHING, Sissy examines Luc’s medal.

					SISSY (Cont’d.)
			I have a gold medal too,
			but it’s just little – like me.

INT. O’CONNELL’S COIN SHOP – DAY

					WES (Cont’d.)
			That’s why they started
			milling coins; so people
			couldn’t tamper with them any more.

					SWEDE
			Well, I’ll be damned.  I never
			knew that.  I mean, I thought
			they just milled the edges for
			artistic effect, I guess.
				(Looks at coin)
			So…

WES
			Well, if I had this in the 
			shop here, I might get about
			two hundred fifty for it, maybe
			a little more.  They’re nice,
			but not that rare.  Used to be
			a lot of these in circulation
			around the turn of the last century.

					SWEDE
			Two hundred fifty…

					WES
			That’s retail, you understand.
			If you want to get rid of it
			I guess I could offer you one
			seventy-five.  You understand,
			some of these coins I have
			here for two, three years before
			I sell them.  That means my money’s
			tied up all that time and there’s
			rent, insurance; all that stuff.
				(Sweeps hand over glass countertop)
			I’ve had some of these coins for
			nearly five years, and no takers.
			I could make more money from a 
			savings account.

					SWEDE
			Yeah, okay.  I guess a hundred
			seventy-five would be all right.

					WES
				(Handing over the money)
			And that’s the only coin you found?

					SWEDE
			My daughter found it in
			the grass out at the farm.
			I went over where she found
			it, but there wasn’t anything
			else.

WES
			Well…believe me, I’ve been
			here a long time, Swede.  Anybody
			will tell you I’m a straight 
			shooter.  I’d never try to
			cheat you.

					SWEDE
			No.  That’s all right.  I
			trust you…Wes.
				(beat)
			By the way, do you know anything
			about somebody named Luc, lives
			up around here someplace?

					WES
			Luc? Oh yeah, Luc Laborde.  He’s
			that crazy Frenchman lives in a
			cabin up there beyond the Meekers
			someplace.  Story is he lost his
			wife during some fighting in			
			Algiers or someplace and he hasn’t 
			been right since.  Wanders around
			up there shooting his gun all the
			time.  If I were you, I’d be
			careful around him.

					SWEDE
			Thanks, I will.

INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE – DAY

Amador County Sheriff’s Sub-Station.  Sheriff Preston Troup is seated at his desk with:

ERIKA STEPHENSON, 25.  Blonde deputy who mans the office.

They jump apart as Swede enters the room.  Sheriff brings himself to attention while Erika goes to her desk and tries to look busy.

					SHERIFF
			Oh! Howdy, Mr. Jorgenson.  Sorry
			to hear about the fire. This’s
			my assistant, Erika.  I – I was
			just showing her some – some documents.

Swede and Erika nod and murmur greeting.

					SWEDE
			Thanks.  Actually, that’s why
			I’m here, Sheriff.  I mean –
			well, I almost wonder if it
			wasn’t done deliberately.

					SHERIFF
			Deliberately?  Why would anyone
deliberately blow up your propane tank?

					SWEDE
			You got me.  I just wondered
			if maybe someone was trying
			to scare us off.  Has anybody
			been trying to buy the place?

					SHERIFF
			Not that I know of. I know
			people have looked into it
			before but something always
			held them up.  But I imagine
			if you wanted to sell, you
			could do all right.  Property
			just keeps going up.  Heh heh.
It keeps going up everywhere, 
			isn’t that the truth, Erika?

					ERIKA
			My parent’s house in Sacramento
			nearly doubled in three years.

					SHERIFF
			Far as I always heard,
			nobody knew how to get in
			touch with your aunt after 
she left Knowles Crossing.  
And then she died and the 
place went into probate.  
That can tie a place up for 
a long time, believe me.  
I believe they thought she 
died intestate for some 
time – then evidently they 
found her will.

SWEDE
Well…I mean, there was
the fire upstairs – before my
wife’s aunt moved away.  From
what Judy at the café says,
and some other little things,
I almost got the feeling she
left because she was afraid.

		SHERIFF
Afraid?  You aunt?  If she
was, she never came to me
about it.  Who would she be
afraid of? Look Mr. Jorgenson,
up here we’re pretty lucky.
We don’t get much in the line
of rapists, murderers or even 
burglars and such.  Most of my
time’s spent snagging the occasional
tourist who thinks he can skin
through town at sixty miles an
hour.  Oh, we get a little petty
theft, a chicken here, a little
shop-lifting there.  But…

		SWEDE
Well, two fires…
You don’t know what caused
the fire in the house?

					SHERIFF
			Well, we don’t have the
			kind of investigation you
			folks have in the city,
			but like I say, we don’t have
			a bunch of arsonists running
			loose either.  I certainly
			never heard any complaints or
			suspicions about the fire. 
			Just an accidental fire, far
			as I know.  What makes you
			think your propane tank wasn’t			
			just – I mean, propane tanks
			are normally plenty safe, but
			an oldie like that…been there
					(MORE)

					SHERIFF (Cont’d.)
a long, long time.  Weather,
			rust, lack of maintenance…

					SWEDE
			Well…I just thought I’d run
			it by you.
	
					SHERIFF
			Look Mr. Jorgenson.  We have some
			nut cases here all right, like
			the Meekers, but they’ve never
			been accused or anything except
			being mean, drunk and stupid.

					SWEDE
			What about Hector Ramirez?

					SHERIFF
			Ramirez?  He’s all right I
			reckon.  Why, has he give
			you any trouble?

					SWEDE
			Oh no.  Not at all.  I just –

					SHERIFF
			I admit he looks like he’d
			knife his own mother for
			smiling the wrong way, but
			we never have any trouble
			with him.
Swede exits and smiling sheriff beckons to Erika.

			Now…where were we?

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

Sissy and Luc are seated on the ground.  Sissy is smoothly removing and re-inserting the clip in the pistol as Luc watches approving.

					SISSY
			Don’t you have a wife, Luc?

LUC
			Ah…I had a wife.  She was 
			like Paris. I called her my
			city of light.  After she was
			taken, I lost the interest,
			like that. The life, for me
			she was never the same…

					SISSY
			Maybe when I grow up, I’ll
			marry you.

					LUC
			Ah yes? Really?

					SISSY
			Well, maybe.  I have to
			think about it.

					LUC
			Of course.  Of course.

EXT. MAIN STREET – DAY

Swede comes out of RAY’S SPORTING GOODS carrying a rifle in a soft case.

EXT. JORGENSON HOUSE – DAY

As usual, the day is bright and clear.  Insects BUZZ, birds SING.

INT. HOUSE – DAY

KITCHEN

Sissy comes in through kitchen door.

					SISSY
			Mama, je veux voir Paris,
			la ville lumière.

					ESSIE
			What?

SISSY
			That’s French!

Essie stares after Sissy in astonishment at Sissy runs from the kitchen. 

LATER

HALL

Essie enters from kitchen.  She feels faint and weak.  She heads up the stairs on her crutches.

JORGENSON BEDROOM

Essie lies back on the bed and closes her eyes.

KITCHEN

Swede is sitting at the table with a cup of coffee, thinking.

EXT. JORGENSON HOUSE – DAY

Sissy is poking about with a little stick in the blackened ruins around the area where the propane tank used to stand.  She’s humming softly to herself:

					  SISSY
			…BUNNY FOO FOO
			HOPPIN’ THROUGH THE FOREST…

Suddenly Sissy spots a glitter in the ashes.

			Oh…

Sissy stops and looks; pokes at the glitter with her stick and then squats down to take a close look.  Perhaps another coin. She picks it up, wipes it off and looks at it; smiles in satisfaction and rises, tucking it into the pocket of her jeans.

Sissy heads for the house, but hears bicycle WHEELS on GRAVEL and turns.

Coming up the roadway she sees Curly Mason on a bicycle.
When he reaches Sissy he hops off, dropping the bike KAPLOP
where it stands.

					CURLY
			My name’s Curly.  What’s
			your name, kid?

					SISSY
			Sissy.

					CURLY
			I saw you move in.  I
			watched from the trees.

					SISSY
			Do you live around here too?

					CURLY
			Maybe.  Heard you had
			a fire.

					SISSY
			A ‘splosion.

					CURLY
			A ‘splosion!  Can’t you
			even talk English?
			That was your propane
			tank.  Yeah, they can
			explode if dummies like
			you don’t treat them
			right.  What did you
			toss a cigarette too
			close to the tank?

					SISSY
			I don’t smoke.

					CURLY
			I do.  I do lots of stuff.
			I do anything I want to.

He pulls a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lights up.  Blows smoke at Sissy.

SISSY
			Don’t.  Don’t do that.

					CURLY
			Did you see the boogey man?

					SISSY
			No, What boogey man?

					CURLY
			The boogey man I keep 
tied up in the hole.  You
mean you ain’t seen him?

					SISSY
			No.

					CURLY
			Come on.  I’ll show you.

He starts off across the field into the trees.

					SISSY
			I’m not supposed to go anyplace.

					CURLY
			It’s just over here.
			I’ll show you.

Curly turns and starts walking.  Reluctantly, Sissy begins to follow him.

They approach a low bluff overgrown with weeds and vines.  Curly snubs out his cigarette, tears the butt apart and lets the tobacco fly, then rolls the paper into a tight ball and tosses it into the air.

					CURLY (Cont’d.)
			That’s the way they do it 
			in the army.  I’m going to
			join the army next year
			maybe.  I have to think 
			about it.  Look.

He pokes about in the overgrowth and pulls some aside to reveal a small dark opening.

					CURLY (Cont’d.)
			Go ahead.  Take a look.
			
					SISSY
			I don’t want to.

					CURLY
			He can’t hurt you.  I got
			him tied up.  Go ahead.

Despite her trepidation, Sissy draws nearer, nearer… Now up by the black opening.

					CURLY
			Go ahead.
				(beat)
			See him?

					SISSY
			I don’t see anything.

					CURLY
			Way back.  He’s way back there.

Curly suddenly gives a Sissy a violent shove pushing her deep into the black hole.

INSIDE THE HOLE

Sissy falls in KAPLOP on her stomach, whimpering in terror.  Behind her Curly is pushing the overgrowth back to that the interior is nearly pitch black.  Sissy starts SCREAMING.  Behind her Curly begins screaming horrible sounds causing Sissy to crawl even deeper into the cave.  Terrible BOOGEYMEN appear to grow and surround her until at last she can turn around and claw her way frantically back out of the hole.

BACK IN SUNLIGHT

A terrified Sissy bursts back out of the hole while Curly, who has lit another cigarette, stands laughing.

SISSY
			You should of not of done
			that, Curly.  I don’t like
			you any more.  You’re not
			a nice boy.

					CURLY
			You really are a sissy, kid.
			You’re a scairdy-cat and a
			sucker too.  Anyway, I lied.
			There ain’t no boogey man.
			You’re just a sissy.

					SISSY
				(softly)
			And I’m not going to show you
			What I found either.

He turns and runs off trailing smoke behind him.

EXT. HOUSE – DAY

As Sissy slowly approaches the house, she watches Curly in the distance riding away on his bicycle.  She wipes her eyes and puts hand into pocket feeling object.  She takes it out and looks at it and slowly trudges toward the house.

A few moments later Sissy stands in doorway and watches as:

Swede comes down off the porch and gets into his car.

					SWEDE
				I won’t be long.  Tell Mamma.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

Luc has set up a paper target on wood sticks in the distance.  He shows the pistol to Sissy, and then hands it to her and watches as she follows his instructions MOS and finally aims and fires BAM.

Frightened yet excited, Sissy hops about singing.

SISSY
			LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO
			HOPPIN’ THROUGH THE FOREST,
			SCOOPIN’ UP THE FIELD MICE…

EXT. JORGENSON HOUSE – DAY

Essie is out in the yard hobbling around, clearly frantic as:

Swede drives up and gets out of his car.

					SWEDE
			What’s the matter now?

					ESSIE
			It’s Sissy!  I can’t find
			her anyplace.  I thought she
			was right out here.

					SWEDE
			I’ll find her.  SISSY!

He heads off around the house yelling SISSY while Essie hobbles around the other way as:

Hector comes strolling up the path carrying his Springfield.

					ESSIE
			Oh Hector.   Have you seen
			Sissy?  She was just out
			here playing.

					HECTOR
			No – I mean, I saw her ‘bout
			half an hour ago, down by 
			the mail box.  She was
			talking to Smiley Meeker.

					ESSIE
			Smiley meeker?  That drunk
			we saw in the café?  Oh…

HECTOR
			Oh, I wouldn’t worry
			none ‘about Meeker.  He’s
			all mouth.  I never considered
			him a danger.

Swede comes back around, still calling:

					SWEDE
			SISSY!

Swede sees Hector.

					SWEDE
			Hi, Hector.  have you seen 
			Sissy?

					ESSIE
			Hector says Sissy was down
			by the mail box talking to
			Smiley Meeker.

					SWEDE
			Smiley Meeker!

Swede runs into the house and comes out a moment later with his new rifle, a 30-30 lever action.

					ESSIE
			SWEDE!

					HECTOR
			Now, I wouldn’t be going off
			half-cocked, Swede.  I know
			those boys are crude but –

Unheeding Swede jumps back into the car with his rifle and takes off.

					ESSIE
			Oh my God…!

INT. MEEKER HOUSE – DAY

KITCHEN

The interior of the Meeker house looks even worse than the exterior.

The stove is smoking.  A table covered with dirty oilcloth stands in the center of the room.  A greasy frying pan full of half-raw bacon sits on the table along with cracked dishes of potatoes, etc.  A big smoky old coffeepot; condiments in yucky bottles.

Addie and Smiley are at the table eating the half-cooked bacon with their fingers while Parley is frying eggs at the stove.  Addie passes down grease-dripping bacon strips to Dusty on floor who doesn’t even raise his head;  just lets the bacon slide into his mouth, as:

Swede bursts into the room with his rifle in his hands.

					SWEDE
			Where’s Sissy?

					PARLEY
			Wha-?  Damn me.  I didn’t
			hear you coming…

					SWEDE
				(To Smiley)
			Where’s Sissy?  Where’s my
			little girl?

					SMILEY
			Whoa there, mister.  I
			don’t know what you talkin’
			about?

					PARLEY
			You saying your little girl
			gone missing?  You know that
-	or you just guessin’?

SWEDE
			Listen, I don’t need any more
			of your wise-ass remarks old
			man.  If one of you hillbillies
			touched my little girl –

					PARLEY
			Just a damned minute there,
			Mister.  We don’t bother little
			girls around here.  I can tell
			you that, and I don’t appreciate
			you’re thinkin’ we would be
			likely to, so how do you like that?

Parley’s hand moves toward his rifle, leaning by the stove.

					SWEDE
			I’ll show you how I like it.

He racks a shell into his rifle and PANDEMONIUM breaks out.  Parley throws his egg pan into the air as:

Addie and Smiley leap back from the table knocking everything all over.  BANG CLATTER BANG!

Smiley makes a grab for Swede’s rifle, which goes off BAM, blowing a hole in the ceiling as all four men tangle and go wrestling to the ground.

Fists SMACK and boots THUMP on the old floor as the men strike at each other, half the time hitting the wrong person.  Only Dusty remains calm, barely watching the action.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

Sissy and Luc are standing in front of a bluff.  In b.g. there is a small cave opening.

Sissy and Luc are preparing to do some practice.  Luc lets Sissy hold the target pistol for a moment while he takes a clip out of his pocket.

					LUC
			Here, now you may load the weapon.
			You no longer have of fear, hein?

Sissy takes the clip and inserts it rather expertly into the butt.

					LUC (Cont’d.)
			Now watch.  The twig on
			this tree over there.

Sissy looks at the indicted twig, nodding.

Taking his usual casual stance with one hand in his pocket, Luc aims the pistol and BAM cuts the twig neatly off.

					LUC (Cont’d.)
			Now you try this.
			It is easy, petite.  Now…
			That twig over there.

As he is about to hand the weapon to Sissy, there is a RUSTLE.  In b.g. Tanner Sweet comes SCRABBLING out of the cave opening with a rifle in his hand.

Luc turns toward Tanner in surprise.  To Tanner, it appears that Luc is aiming at him. Tanner raises his rifle and fires BAM, striking Luc squarely in the stomach.

Luc is bent, but straightens and looks down at his bleeding stomach.

					LUC (Cont’d.)
			Mille !  Mon Dieu…

Luc drops the pistol as he sinks to the duff.

TANNER
			Jesus!

Sissy turns and runs.

					TANNER (Cont’d.)
			Wait!  Stop!

He starts to run after Sissy, but stops by Luc’s body as Lea appears at the opening of the cave. She is carrying a small pistol. 

Tanner touches Luc slightly with his foot, but Luc is dead.

TANNER (Cont’d.)
				(To Luc)
			You thought you had me, eh?
			Well, I’ve worked too long and
			too hard to have some dumb
			alien come waltzing in here
			at the last moment to – not
			after all the time and money
			we’ve put into this project.

					LEA
			My God, you killed him.

					TANNER
			He didn’t give me any
			Choice, dear.  He was going to
			shoot me.  And the little
			girl, Sissy.  We’ve got to
			find her.

					LEA
			Sissy?  She was here?  She saw you?

Lea swings about distractedly.

			My God, now the whole county
			will be up here digging.

					TANNER
			Well, if they don’t have any
			better luck than us, we don’t
			have much to worry about.

					LEA
			Tanner, when everybody and
			his brother starts digging
			around up here, somebody’s
			bound to find it – and it
			won’t be you because you’ll
			be sitting up in the county
			jail waiting to go to trial
			for murder.

TANNER
			That’s not going to happen.
			I’m not an evil man, but
			I can’t let that child
			put me in prison.  No.
			No, I just can’t.

					LEA
			We’ve got to find her.
			Which way did she go?

					TANNER
			Off down that way.

INT. MEEKER HOUSE – DAY

The Meekers have the upper hand at last.  Swede and the Meekers are all about exhausted from their wrestling and fighting.

					PARLEY
			I keep tellin’ you, my boys too 
damn lazy to bother any little 
girls.  They might be lazy and 
dirty and stupid as their maws, 
but they don’t go around messin’ 
with no little girls.

		SWEDE
Well…

		ADDIE
I saw her talking to Ramirez.

		SMILEY
I did see your little girl
down by your mailbox bout
an hour ago, but Addie here
say she was talking to Ramirez
after that.  If I was you,
I’d be talkin’ to the Mex.
I never did trust that man.

		SWEDE
I don’t believe he – I –

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

Sissy has run around in a wide circle and is now lying prone in the grass on the bluff above the Tanner cave.  She watches the Tanners run off in two different directions looking for her.

Luc lies dead on the ground, his pistol by his side.

When the Sweets disappear, Sissy scrambles back down and runs to Luc.  She touches his shoulder fondly, but there is nothing she can do.  Her eyes fill with tears.

					SISSY
			Luc…

					TANNER (OS)
				(Fairly distant)
			Over here!

Sissy leaps to her feet, looking about her in terror.

SERIES OF INTERCUTS

Frightened Sissy running, looking over her shoulder (only head and shoulders visible).
Tanner and Lea stumbling around among the trees, growing more and more agitated.

					TANNER
			Sissy! Sissy!  Come on
			Sis!  We’re not going to
			hurt you.
				(Under breath)
			God damn her!

					LEA
			Tanner, stay calm.  You’re
			losing control.

					TANNER
			You damn bet I am. SISSY!

Sissy running through the woods, very fearful; breathless.

Tanner is stalking now. Maybe he’s very close…

Out of breath, Sissy stops, trying to get her bearings.

Lea thinks she hears something CRACK nearby.

Tanner and Lea turn and run in the direction of the sound, but see that it’s only a deer.

					TANNER
			She’s right here someplace.
			We’ll find her.
				(Louder)
			Come on Sissy!  We’ve got
			to get you home.  There are
			ticks out here.  It’s not
			safe.

Sissy moves very softly now, feeling danger upon her.  Suddenly she sees something ahead and runs forward.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

A frantic Essie is hobbling through the grass calling out.

					ESSIE
		Sissy!  Sissy!
NEAR THE CREEK

Hector is working his way along, calling out constantly.

					HECTOR
			Sissy!

Suddenly Swede appears and assaults Hector.

					SWEDE
			It was you, wasn’t it, you –

					HECTOR
			Hey – wait a –

Swede raises his rifle menacingly.  Hector drops his Springfield and makes a grab for Swede’s weapon.  They wrestle around, going to the ground, but finally Hector gets the rifle away from Swede.

HECTOR (Cont’d.)
			Give me that damned thing
			before you kill somebody with it.

Swede lies back panting, exhausted and at his wits’ end.

					SWEDE
			Sissy…

					HECTOR
			I wouldn’t touch your
			daughter, Swede.  I’m not
			like that.  Why do you
			think I’m running around
			helping Essie look for her?
			Come on now.  We’re wasting time.

					SWEDE
			Okay.  All right. If I’m			
			wrong, I’m sorry.  I don’t
			know.  The Meekers.  They said –

					HECTOR
			If they Meekers said a
word, it was automatically
			a lie.
Swede begins to pull himself together.  He gets to his feet.  Hector stands up too, still holding Swede’s rifle.

					SWEDE
			I’ll go up this way, and
			maybe you can look up
			that way.  Which way did
			Essie go?

					HECTOR
			I think she’s on the other
			side of that rise over there.

Just at that moment, Tanner and Lea appear and, seeing Hector swing about with Swede’s rifle in his hand, Tanner raises his own weapon.
Hector reacts, raising Swede’s rifle in one hand.  He shoots BAM at Tanner, but his shot misses Tanner.  Lea doubles over in pain, crumpling to the ground.

TANNER
			Jesus!  Lea!
				(To Hector)
			You’ve shot her.

Tanner pauses for a second, starts to bend down over Lea.

					LEA
				(Weakly)
			Go on, Tanner.  I’m fine.
			Take care of – I can handle
			these boys.

Hector runs toward Tanner and Lea, but Tanner jumps up, fires off a wild shot BAM, and runs off with his rifle.

Hector starts to run after Tanner, but decides to stop and see if he can help Lea.  He kneels over her.

					HECTOR
			You’ll be all right.  I’ll
			get some help.  What were you
			doing out here?  Don’t’ tell me
			you looking for that fortune?

					LEA
			Five years.  Five years, night
			and day.  All over this countryside…

Swede kneels beside Hector and Lea.

					HECTOR
			You poor woman.  If there was
			any fortune out here, don’t
			you think somebody would’ve
			found it by now?  Sure, I’ve
			thought about it myself a few
			times over the years, but –
			hell, I’m not even sure there 
			ever was a fortune.  People start 
			these legends- and that’s all they
			are: Legends.

					SWEDE
			A fortune?  Here on my property?

HECTOR
			I’m telling you, it’s one of
			those urban legends.  Story is
			back around nineteen-hundred,
			some bandits called the 
			Sheffield Gang robbed the
			train of a fortune in gold and
			silver coins.  But they got
			waylaid around here someplace.
			The posse found their bodies,
			but no loot.  Well, a few coins.

					SWEDE
			Then…

					HECTOR
			Listen, whoever waylaid
			the gang got the loot and
			took off and that’s the end
			of the story.  Why would they
			leave it here?  Only some dumb
			fools persist in thinking the
gang buried the loot around
			here first and then had a
			fight and shot each other. But
			it never happened.

					LEA
				(Carefully moving her pistol)
			No.  No…it has – to be…true.

Suddenly she brings up her hand revealing her pistol, but
as she fires BAM, Swede manages to deflect her hand.  The shot goes wild.  This is Lea’s last effort.  Her face distorts.

					LEA (Cont’d.)
			Damn you…

She gasps faintly and dies.

CLOSER TO THE JORGENSON HOUSE

Essie is alone, hobbling along on her crutches, frantic, trying to calm herself by absently humming the bunny song.

The day is waning and Essie is completely exhausted, stumbling more and more.  She continues to CALL OUT to Sissy.  In between she nervously continues to hum the bunny song.

					ESSIE
			Sissy!  Sissy! LITTLE
			BUNNY FOO FOO HOPPIN’
			THROUGH THE…Sissy!

BACK CLOSER TO CREEK

Swede and Hector are moving carefully along, watching both for Sissy and Tanner.

INTERCUT

Essie hobbles along near an outcropping.

INTERCUT

Swede separates from Hector and heads up into the trees.

INTERCUT

Essie stops every few moments, thinks perhaps she hears something.

					ESSIE
			Foo…scoopin’ up the
			FIELD MICE AND BOPPIN’
			them on the – Sissy!

INTERCUT

Hector thinks she sees something in the water.  He moves closed to investigate.  It is nothing but an old flour sack caught on a rock in the water.

INTERCUT

Swede stumbles onto Luc’s body.  He kneels down, realizing Luc is dead.  Uncertain what to do now.

INTERCUT

Tears well in Essie’s eyes as she continues to hobble along.

…MICE AND BOPPIN’ THEM
			ON THE – Sissy!  Sissy!
			LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO…

She sighs, and continues along.

			…FOO, SCOOPIN’ UP THE
			FIELD MICE AND BOPPIN’
			THEM ON THE…

Then very very faintly, an echo comes back to her.  Essie’s not sure at first.  Did she imagine it…or did she hear something?

				ESSIE (Cont’d.)
			LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO…
			Sissy!

She stops and listens.  Now very faintly, but more certainly she hears:

					SISSY(OS)
				(Faint, muffled)
			HOPPIN’ THROUGH THE FOREST…

					ESSIE
			Sissy! SCOOPIN’ UP THE
			FIELD MICE…

					SISSY (OS)
			…AND BOPPIN’ THEM ON THE
			HEAD.

Essie has caught the direction now and heads toward the small bluff covered in overgrown weeds and vines. The place where Curly took Sissy.)

					ESSIE
			Sissy!  It’s Mama.

Slowly the weeds part and a bedraggled Sissy’s face appears.

					SISSY
			Mama!  Oh, Mama, I was
			so scared.

Relieved, Essie turns awkwardly.

					ESSIE
			Sissy!  Oh my God…

Essie starts to hobble toward Sissy as:

Tanner suddenly appears, his rifle at the ready.

					SISSY
			Mama!

					ESSIE
			Tanner!  What are you
			doing here?

					TANNER
			I’m sorry, Essie. I’m sorry your 
               family had to get mixed up in this.
			But the die is cast.

					ESSIE
			The die is cast?  What does
			that mean? What are you
			talking about?

					TANNER
			It means there’s a fortune in
			gold and silver buried up
			here someplace.  Lea and I
			have been digging around
			here for five years now.
			Well, all that’s over.
			Lea’s dead, and that alien’s
			dead.  But I see a way out.
			I can still make it work once
			you and Sissy are out of the way.

ESSIE
			The lights at night –
			the fires…
				(beat)
			You must be out of your
			mind, Tanner.  Well, nobody’s
			stopping you.  Go.  Just go.

					TANNER
			You don’t understand.  I killed a 
man today.  Sissy watched me do it.  
I’m sorry it happened, but it’s 
done now.  It’s too late to go back 
and make changes…

He raises the rifle menacingly in one hand and presents it.

			I’m sorry.  Believe me, I truly am.

					SISSY
			You leave my mama alone or
			I’ll shoot you.

Tanner looks over at Sissy.  Sissy is holding Luc’s pistol pointed right at him.

					TANNER
			Put that down, Sissy.  That’s
			dangerous.  Guns aren’t for
     		little girls.  You’ll hurt
			yourself.  Put it down.

					SISSY
			It’s just like a rock.
			It can’t move unless 
			I move it.

Relentless and at the end of his patience, Tanner swings his rifle up toward Sissy.  Sissy tries to fire, but can’t.  She throws the pistol out onto the duff.  Essie drops her crutches and quickly bends and snatches up the pistol and - just as Tanner is about to squeeze the trigger, Essie FIRES.

Tanner looks down in shock at his bleeding thigh and slowly crumples forward to the duff as:

A crying Sissy scrambles out of her hideout.

Dropping the pistol, Sissy runs, leaps into Essie’s arms.

					ESSIE
			Oh, my baby…!

					SISSY
			Mommy, I was so scared.  I
			don’t like Tanner any more.
			Mama, he shot Luc. 
			Mama, I’m not afraid of guns
			any more.  Guns are just
			like rocks. But I couldn’t shoot
			Tanner.  I don’t want to shoot
			Anything but branches and stuff.

					ESSIE
			My God!  Oh, my baby.  Well,
			we’ve got to get you home.

She stands Sissy back on the ground and bends to pick up her crutches.  As she does so, she looks right into the eyes of a bleeding Tanner who looms with his rifle aimed at them.

					TANNER
			I’m sorry…

His finger squeezes the trigger.

Essie and Sissy’s faces express sheer terror.

In fear and desperation, Essie hurls a crutch at Tanner.  It strikes him on the chest, hurting him. His rifle BAMS wildly and the crutch only feeds his anger.  He re-aims and his finger squeezes on the trigger.  Now Essie and Sissy clutch each other, helpless in their terror.

BAM!  Has Tanner shot Essie?  Or Sissy?  No, wait!  Tanner is the one who has been shot…again.  His rifle slowly slides to the ground as he lurches forward.

					TANNER
			Goddamit…

Tanner stiffens and falls awkwardly onto his face.

Swede, Hector and Sheriff Preston Troup with drawn revolver come running from behind the oak trees.

					ESSIE
			Oh, I thought –

Swede rushes forward and embraces Essie and Sissy.

					SWEDE
			Thank God you’re all right.

					SISSY 
				(Tearful)
			He hurt my friend…

Swede hugs her and pats her back.

					SWEDE
			I know he did, sweetheart.  He
			Was a bad man.

					SHERIFF
			Swede came into town this
			morning and showed me that
			emerald earring your daughter
			found in the ashes.  I knew right 
away it came from Lea.  I thought
about it a little and realized
she had to lose it the night the 
propane tank went up.  Nobody 
was at the store, so I headed out
			here.  Looks like we were just
			in time, too.

INT. JORGENSON HOUSE – DAY

					SHERIFF
			I’m not sure, but now I think
			they started the
			house fire that drove your aunt 
off too. They’ve been snooping 
around out here for a long time.
			They couldn’t buy the place,
					(MORE)

					SHERIFF (Cont’d.)
			but they couldn’t stand for
			anyone else to have it either.

					SWEDE
			And all along I was thinking
			the Meekers were making all
			the trouble.

					SHERIFF
			Hah!  They’re too lazy to
			cause much trouble. They
			never believed that story
			about the Sheffield Gang
			and the money anyway.
			Round here, nobody does.
			But those Sweets, they got
			it in their heads that
			there was a fortune from
			an old train robbery buried 
			up here someplace.

					ESSIE
			I almost feel sorry for them.

					SHERIFF
			I wouldn’t feel too sorry,
			Ma’am. They were ready to kill
			over this.  They did kill.
			All over nothing.

					SWEDE
				(Sighs)
			The stuff dreams are made of.

					SHERIFF
			What’s that?

					SWEDE
			It was just a wild goose
			chase.  Sam Spade called it
			the stuff dreams are made of.

					SHERIFF
			Sam Spade…?

INT. JORGENSON HOUSE – DAY

KITCHEN

Sissy looks up from Foo Foo, whom she’s feeding.

					SISSY
				(Conspiratorially)
			Mama, I did find some more
			money, but I didn’t want
			to tell Mr. Sweet.

					ESSIE
			You did?

					SISSY
			I’ve got a piece upstairs.

					ESSIE
			You do?

Sissy runs out of the room and returns a moment later with a small gold coin in her hand.

					SISSY
			See.

Essie examines the tiny coin.

					ESSIE
			I think it’s gold, Sissy.
			I wish we had a hundred
			of these.

					SISSY
				(Slyly)
			We do, Mama.  We do.  Even
			more.  I really did find
			more.  If Daddy brings a
			flashlight, I’ll show you.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

This is the slight bluff covered by overgrowth where Sissy hid from Tanner; Curly’s boogeyman hole.

Sissy goes right up to the overgrowth and pulls weeds and vines aside.

					SISSY
			See, Daddy, in here.  But
			it’s way back.

Swede approaches and gets his head into the hole.  He shines the flashlight into the hole and then begins to wriggle in.  Now only his kicking legs stick out.

INT. HOLE

It’s almost pitch-black in the hole but Swede keeps wriggling farther in, shining his flashlight ahead of him.  Insects move around and vines entangle him.  It’s very uncomfortable.

The cavern gets bigger now and suddenly Swede’s light falls on a pile of rotting canvas sacks.  Gold and silver coins spill out gleaming brightly in the light from Swede’s flashlight.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY

Essie and Sissy watch as Swede wriggles back out of the hole and finally is able to stand upright.  He dusts his face and head off.

He triumphantly holds out one hand.  It is filled with shining gold and silver coins.

					SWEDE
			Just take a look at this.
			Maybe there’s something
			to dreams after all.

					ESSIE
			There really was money
			buried out here…
				(shivers)
			It’s kind of sad; After
			all their years of digging,
			they died here, right
			here by the fortune he’d
			been chasing all this time.

SWEDE
			Well, I can’t feel too sorry for 
the Sweets, but they’re gone now.  
Somebody else will have to judge them.
			This is a fortune, Honey.  We have 
sacks and sacks of coins. And not all 
silver either.  Half of them are gold.  
We can build a new house.
			A big new house.

He turns and picks Sissy up.

			And Sissy found it.

					SISSY
			I told you.

					ESSIE
			You certainly did, Sweetheart.
			You certainly did.

					SISSY
			Are we going to live 
			happily ever after now?

They all LAUGH.

					ESSIE
			We’re sure going to try.

					SWEDE
			Yes we are.  We sure are.

THE END