A SENSE OF YUMA
FADE IN:
1 EXT. DESERT -- DAY 1
A sign: YUMA, ARIZONA TERRITORY. POP. 1,247
A moment, then--
SPANG! A GUNSHOT blasts through the T in "Territory." And
a second later--
WYLIE streaks past. He's scrawny and scraggly and unshaven
and, at this moment, stark naked, apart from a battered old
Stetson he's holding clamped over his personals. He's running
for his life across the hot, rocky sand, chased by--
A dozen DANCE HALL GIRLS, ranging from first-bloom-of-youth
to slightly-overripe, of various sizes and shades, but all
wearing velvet and lace and not much of either. They whoop
and shriek as they chase Wylie. In the lead is MADAME
BOUMTIER, full-figured and fortyish; she's the one with the
gun, a huge old Colt hogsleg, which she's firing into the
air.
CUT TO:
FROM A DISTANCE, AND SLIGHTLY ABOVE
Wylie and the mob race off into the desert.
JUDGE DUKE (O.S.)
Now, see? Ain't that exactly what I
been talkin' about?
CUT TO:
2 INT. COURTHOUSE / COUNCIL CHAMBER -- CONTINUOUS 2
Reveal:
We're in the Council Chamber of Yuma, Arizona Territory, c.
1876. And we're there with the City Council-- half a dozen
prosperous, middle-aged men, all with cigars.
JUDGE DUKE
Things is just got completely outta *
hand. *
Take a look at JUDGE JUDGE DUKE: not a big man, but the *
kind of guy who fills up a room with energy and personality. *
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 2
7-16-00
The best-dressed man in the room is SNELLBORN-- a dude, a
little of the old maid.
SNELLBORN *
Oh, really, it's not like they're
going to kill him.
ESKERLUS *
They just like to chase him. They *
don't even wanna catch him. *
JUDGE DUKE
I ain't just talkin' about him! I'm *
talkin' about the whole town! *
ESKERLUS
Look, Duke--
Judge Duke shoots him a look. ESKERLUS is a raspy older
guy, around 60.
ESKERLUS (CONT'D)
Judge Judge Duke. Folks like things
the way they is. Free 'n' easy like.
Right, Doc?
DOCTOR DOCTOR CONKLIN is a squeaky little man with spectacles
and no chin.
DOCTOR CONKLIN
You know what they say-- if it ain't
broke...
JUDGE DUKE
Ain't broke, huh? How many weddings
you perform this year, Parson?
PARSON BRIDGER is a cadaverous giant with a basset-hound
face and a sonorous, ecclesiastical voice.
PARSON BRIDGER
Tied for all time with the blessed *
knot of holy matrimony-- *
JUDGE DUKE
How many?
PARSON BRIDGER
None.
JUDGE DUKE
You see? Why buy the cow when milk
is free?
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 3
7-16-00
DOCTOR CONKLIN
(Nudging Snellborn)
Why buy milk when water's free?
ESKERLUS
Whaddaya mean, free? You got to dig
a well for water.
DOCTOR CONKLIN
No, no, what I was saying was--
A glance from Judge Duke silences him.
JUDGE DUKE
If you can live in sin, and nobody
raises an eyebrow, why get married?
PARSON BRIDGER
Can't say as I miss them.
JUDGE DUKE
(Distracted)
What?
PARSON BRIDGER
Weddings. No challenge, weddings.
No call for oratory. "Dearly
beloved... do you take... I now
pronounce... kiss the bride..." No
scope for a man's skills, weddings.
Now, a funeral, on the other hand.
(Warming to his subject)
I'll take a good funeral any day of
the week. I've always thought--
JUDGE DUKE
You almost done? 'Cause, if you
ain't, we can all just come back
later.
(To the group)
Question is, what're we gonna do
'bout this here situation?
He glares around the table as we--
CUT TO:
3 EXT. COURTHOUSE -- DAY 3
SHAKY BILL staggers down the street towards the Courthouse--
Bill is the town drunk-- a study in scruffiness. Still, he
has a certain sense of humor and even some dignity.
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 4
7-16-00
HIS POV:
The Courthouse. Except it's been converted to other functions--
a makeshift red banner reading "SALOON" almost conceals the
words "YUMA COURTHOUSE." Honky tonk music rolls out onto the
street; close to rolling out are the GIRLS advertising
themselves in the upstairs windows.
GIRL 1
Hey, Bill! Shaky Bill!
GIRL 2
How you doin', lover man?
GIRL 1
Come on up, Bill-- on the house!
Shaky Bill nods and waves, acknowledging them-- but he's got
other business on his mind. He stumbles up the courthouse
steps and into--
4 INT. COURTHOUSE / LOBBY -- CONTINUOUS 4
--which has been converted into a saloon. FRITZ, the red-
headed, slightly dandyish pianist bangs out loud barrel-house
piano-- when he spots Shaky Bill, he shifts into an uptempo
"How Dry I Am." Shaky Bill nods in acknowledgement but keeps
moving to the bar. He has an English accent but slurs his
words. He draws himself up to his full height and tries to
focus on the huge, hairy BARTENDER, who's busy polishing
glasses.
SHAKY BILL
Excuse me, old fellow--
BARTENDER
No.
SHAKY BILL
Now, really, such a small request--
BARTENDER
No.
SHAKY BILL
Just a taste, something to settle
the nerves and tide me over.
BARTENDER
You want a drink?
(Wicked grin)
Give us a tune.
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 5
7-16-00
SHAKY BILL
Oh, now, really, old fellow--
The crowd has picked up on this-- ad lib cries of "Play for
us, Shaky Bill!" A lot of laughter. Fritz gets up from the
piano stool, makes a grand gesture for Shaky Bill to sit.
Reluctantly, Shaky Bill lowers himself onto the stool and
faces the piano.
SHAKY BILL (CONT'D)
I haven't practiced in some time--
Gales of LAUGHTER from the crowd.
SHAKY BILL (CONT'D)
Well, what would you like to hear?
BARTENDER
What about some Chow-Pan?
More laughter. Shaky Bill faces the keyboard uncertainly.
CRACKS his knuckles magnificently. Poises his hands above
the keyboard-- Everything he does provokes new laughter from
the crowd.
His hands swoop down on the keys, and he plays--
Perfectly.
A Chopin nocturne. The room goes silent, except for the
piano, which is suddenly in perfect tune.
Close on Shaky Bill-- he still looks like a scruffy drunk.
Reveal-- the crowd-- lost in the music. One by one, breaking
into tears. The GIRLS collapse onto each other.
Shaky Bill ends with a flourish. The room is silent except
for weeping. Shaky Bill stumbles to the bar. The huge
Bartender, sobbing, pours him a drink, pushes it towards
him.
BARTENDER (CONT'D)
Here--
Shaky Bill takes the bottle from his unresisting hand.
SHAKY BILL
Thankee.
CUT TO:
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 6
7-16-00
5 EXT. COURTHOUSE -- MOMENTS LATER 5
Shaky Bill comes out onto the courthouse steps, takes a long
pull on the bottle, belches hugely, and addresses us directly.
SHAKY BILL
So, this is Yuma, Arizona Territory.
As he talks, he walks around to the back of the courthouse.
SHAKY BILL (CONT'D)
Second largest city in the territory.
Population approximately 1,200.
He carfully tucks the bottle into his pants and starts to
climb a tree near the courthouse's back wall.
SHAKY BILL (CONT'D)
(Climbing)
Eleven saloons, nine general stores,
one drug store, one barber shop, two
harness shops, one machine shop;
three smithys and wagon shops, one
livery stable, two hotels, one
newspaper, four lawyers, two doctors,
two notaries and--
He's now at the level of the second-floor window and gestures
for us to look through it.
SHAKY BILL (CONT'D)
One district judge.
His POV: Through the window, the Council Chamber we were in
before.
CUT TO:
6 INT. COURTHOUSE / COUNCIL CHAMBER -- DAY 6
As before. Judge Duke is glaring around the table.
JUDGE DUKE
Something's gotta be done about this
situation!
ESKERLUS
What situation?
JUDGE DUKE
This situation!
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 7
7-16-00
ESKERLUS
There ain't no situation!
JUDGE DUKE
Decent folk's afraid to come here!
ESKERLUS
Well, who needs 'em?
SNELLBORN
He has a point, Judge. The town is
doing quite well.
(Off Judge Duke's
glare; faltering)
Isn't it?
JUDGE DUKE
You tell me, Snellborn. Folks move
in, they borrow money from your
bank...
(To Eskerlus)
Spend it on food at your store...
(To Doctor Conklin)
Which'll make 'em sick enough to go
to Doc Conklin...
(To Parson Bridger)
And when the Doc kills 'em, the Parson
here buries 'em.
(Beat)
But if you don't want none of that...
SNELLBORN
(Beat)
All right, suppose we do have a
problem...
PARSON BRIDGER
What, I ask, I beseech, what are we
intended to do?
JUDGE DUKE
We got to exercise some moral
authority, that's what!
DOCTOR CONKLIN
(Beat)
Us?
The door opens-- Madame Boumtier sticks her head in, a little
out of breath.
MADAME BOUMTIER
They're not gonna stay hot forever. *
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 8
7-16-00
JUDGE DUKE *
(Sighs)
Meeting recessed to the courtroom. *
CUT TO:
7 INT. COURTHOUSE / COURT ROOM -- MINUTES LATER 7
A grand old court room, with five copper hip-baths set up in
front of the judge's bench. Judge Duke and the four
Councilmen are in the steaming tubs, still smoking their
cigars, each being scrubbed by a girl.
JUDGE DUKE
I'm not sayin' we want to be like
Utah or some place. I'm just sayin'
we need to rein things in a little.
ESKERLUS
And how we gonna do that?
DOCTOR CONKLIN
People'd just laugh at us.
PARSON BRIDGER
(Intoning)
"Do as I say, not as I do."
SNELLBORN
None of us have--
(To girl)
--Oooh, that tickles-- moral
authority.
JUDGE DUKE
Yeah.
(Chewing on his cigar)
What we need's--
(Shouts)
Bailiffs!
The side door to the Judge's chambers crashes open-- ELBOW
KNEE and KNEE KNEE, two disreputable twin bailiffs, are both
in such a hurry to be the first one in that they get wedged
in. They try to free themselves but give it up.
ELBOW
Yeah, Judge Duke?
KNEE
Whaddaya want, Judge Duke?
JUDGE DUKE
More hot water!
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 9
7-16-00
ELBOW
You got it, Judge
Duke!
KNEE
Anything you say, Judge
Duke!
They squeeze back out the way they came, closing the door--
ELBOW
Why'ncha let me go first?
KNEE
I'm the oldest!
The door closes.
JUDGE DUKE
If we can't lay down the law
ourselves, we got to find us a front
man.
DOCTOR CONKLIN
A which?
JUDGE DUKE
A front man. Put somebody in charge
for a while, Somebody they'll take
serious.
ESKERLUS
Lemme get this straight-- you wanna
hand over the town--
JUDGE DUKE
Just for a while. A few weeks, a
couple of months. Just to put a lid
on.
ESKERLUS
It'll never work.
JUDGE DUKE
It'll work. All we need's the right
guy.
PARSON BRIDGER
Someone of unquestioned moral fiber. *
SNELLBORN
Who isn't afraid to make enemies.
ESKERLUS
Somebody with a real stick up his
ass!
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 10
7-16-00
A long beat, then--
ALL FIVE - SIMULTANEOUS
Angel!
CUT TO:
8 EXT. COURTHOUSE -- CONTINUOUS 8
Shaky Bill is climbing down out of his tree.
SHAKY BILL
Once the decision was made, there
was clearly only one man for the job--
The Courthouse window is thrown open by the naked, dripping
Judge Duke. He flips Bill a coin.
JUDGE DUKE
Shaky Bill-- go fetch Deputy Owens
from the jail.
SHAKY BILL
(Bowing)
I shall do so posthaste.
JUDGE DUKE
No, do it now!
He slams the window shut.
SHAKY BILL
(to us)
Deputy Angel Owens isn't exactly the
busiest man in town--
CUT TO:
9 INT. JAIL -- DAY 9
A row of cells--empty.
A set of keys-- cobwebbed.
A desk-- dusty.
A man-- glowering.
DEPUTY ANGEL OWENS is about 30, very good looking, in a very
bad mood. He's sitting backwards on a wooden chair, chin
propped on his crossed arms, glaring at the empty cells.
His clothes are clean and pressed, his boots gleam, his hair
is barbered and brushed.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 11
7-16-00
He looks like an 1876 GQ model, except he hates his life so
much that it comes out through his pores.
There's a POUNDING on the door. It opens to reveal:
Shaky Bill.
SHAKY BILL
Deputy! Judge Duke wants you!
CUT TO:
10 EXT. YUMA MAIN STREET -- MOMENTS LATER 10
Shaky Bill struggles to keep up with Angel's long strides.
SHAKY BILL
He didn't say, he just tol' me to
fetch you. "Go fetch Deputy Owens,"
that's what--
ANGEL
It's bad news.
SHAKY BILL
Why d'yuh say that? *
ANGEL
Because it's never good news.
They pass a yard just as a tall woman, MARY ANNE FREDERICK,
straightens up from tending her neat garden. As she stares, *
her eyes meet Angel's-- he instantly turns away, cold. Mary *
Anne looks after him-- deep sadness and longing. *
SHAKY BILL
(To us-- sotto voce) *
There's a little history here-- you'll
find out about-- hey!
A BANG and his hat flies from his head-- shot off. Angel
and Shaky Bill turn to see--
Down an alley--
CLAUDE O'BRIEN, 20, good-looking but a little dissolute, *
with the adorable, giggly and pregnant LUCY CARR. And LUCIUS, *
a greasy kid, about 22, with JEAN-MARIE, one of the dance
hall girls. Claude's got the gun.
CLAUDE
Sorry, Deputy.
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 12
7-16-00
Angel approaches.
ANGEL
You just discharged a firearm within
city limits.
CLAUDE
Well, I'm real sorry about that,
Deputy. It just went off unexpected-
like.
(Re Lucy's belly)
I been havin' that problem a lot.
Angel turns even grimmer.
ANGEL
Give me the gun.
LUCIUS
Now, Deputy, you got no cause to--
ANGEL
(Ignoring Lucius)
I said, give me the gun.
CLAUDE
Now, Deputy, I just got this here
gun-- it's an engagement present.
Me'n Lucy're gettin' married.
The wrong thing to say to Angel. He takes a step closer as--
Behind him, Lucius picks up a two-by-four. He swings--
Angel's POV: A sudden shift in Lucius' shadow on the ground.
Angel drops-- the two-by-four whooshes over his head--
And-- CRACK!-- right into Claude's face. The gun goes flying--
Angel plucks it out of the air.
CUT TO:
11 EXT. COURT HOUSE -- MOMENTS LATER 11
Angel strides down the street, the unconscious Claude slung
over his shoulder, dragging a badly-battered Lucius behind
him. Shaky Bill trots to keep up.
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 13
7-16-00
SHAKY BILL
(To us)
So, you see, Angel had nothin'
missin', least when it come to nerve.
But that don't mean he--
GIRL 1 (O.S.)
Yoo-hoo! Angel!
Angel takes in the Courthouse with supreme disgust. *
HIS POV
Girls are still hanging out the windows. They've spotted
Angel--
GIRL 1 (CONT'D)
Angel!
GIRL 2
Deputy! Come on up and show us your
big star!
GIRL 3
Can I put my finger on your trigger?
The girls laugh and giggle. Angel's scowl deepens; he
pretends not to notice them as he makes his way in, still
carrying his prisoners.
CUT TO:
12 INT. COURT HOUSE / LOBBY -- CONTINUOUS 12
Angel pushes through the still-sobbing crowd-- Angel registers
that they're crying, but doesn't give it more than a puzzled
look before--
Elbow and Knee swing the massive courtroom doors open and
close them again behind Angel.
CUT TO: *
13 INT. COURT HOUSE / COURT ROOM -- CONTINUOUS 13
Angel enters the courtroom. He dumps Lucius and Claude on *
the floor.
The bath tubs are gone. Judge Judge Duke is at his high
bench, in his robes, flanked by the Councilmen. He looks
like what he is-- an important territorial judge.
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 14
7-16-00
JUDGE DUKE
Deputy Owens! Come in! Have a seat!
ANGEL
I have a couple prisoners. Unlawful
discharge of a firearm within town
limits and assaulting an officer of
the law.
A GIRL enters from Judge Duke's chambers, with a bottle of
whiskey and some glasses on a tray. She starts to serve the
councilmen.
ESKERLUS
Don't look like they did much of the
assaultin'.
ANGEL
I want a trial.
JUDGE DUKE
Deputy, we got bigger fish to fry
today. Bailiffs!
The Froths appear.
JUDGE DUKE (CONT'D)
Would you, ah--
They each grab one of the prisoners and drag them out.
Angel's frown deepens.
ANGEL
You're just going to release them?
JUDGE DUKE
Like I said, we got bigger fish to
fry. Whiskey?
ANGEL
I don't drink.
JUDGE DUKE
Cigar?
ANGEL
I don't smoke.
Judge Duke and the Girl exchange a look-- she shakes her
head slightly-- Angel doesn't do that, either.
JUDGE DUKE
So-- how's things at the jail?
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 15
7-16-00
ANGEL
Quiet.
JUDGE DUKE
(Lighting a cigar)
Hm?
ANGEL
Every time I arrest somebody, you
order him released. I don't know *
why you need a deputy if you won't
let me--
JUDGE DUKE
Yes, well--
(Puffing on the cigar)
That's what I wanted to talk to you
about. How'd you like a new job?
ANGEL
(Suspicious)
What job?
JUDGE DUKE
My job.
ANGEL
Your job?
JUDGE DUKE
Territorial Judge. I'm goin' out of
town for a few weeks, maybe a few
months. And I need--
ANGEL
Why?
JUDGE DUKE
What why?
ANGEL
Why are you leaving town?
JUDGE DUKE
(Unprepared for the
question)
Uh--
DOCTOR CONKLIN
(Chiming in)
He's going to a convention.
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 16
7-16-00
JUDGE DUKE
That's right-- a Territorial Judge's
Convention. And while I'm gone--
ANGEL
A convention? For months? Where's
it being held?
Judge Duke is stumped. But Eskerlus jumps in.
ESKERLUS
Poland! That ain't the point. The
point is, you want the job or
don'tcha?
ANGEL
What job?
(To Judge Duke)
You never enforce the laws, you let
'em turn the courthouse into a
whorehouse--
SNELLBORN
Now, Deputy, you know that's only
until they rebuild the dance hall.
ANGEL
Licentiousness and lasciviousness
have been allowed to run rampant,
priapic prurience flourishes like a
weed, everywhere you look, decency
is affronted! This town doesn't
need a judge, it needs a zookeeper.
The councilmen and Judge Duke exchange a look-- they've got
the right man.
JUDGE DUKE
Son, I don't believe in telling a
man how to do his job. If you're
sittin' up here, you get to enforce
the law any way you see fit.
A pause: Angel can sense a trap but can't see it.
ANGEL *
Arrest people? *
JUDGE DUKE *
Yup. *
ANGEL *
Fine 'em? *
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 17
7-16-00
JUDGE DUKE *
You betcha. *
ANGEL *
Send 'em to jail? *
JUDGE DUKE *
Absolutely. *
ANGEL
What's the catch?
JUDGE DUKE
No catch, son. Now, is you in or is
you out?
Off Angel's suspicious face--
CUT TO:
14 INT. TRAIN -- DAY 14
Through the window: a crowd of well-wishers, waving signs--
"So Long, Judge Duke," "Have Fun in Poland," etc.
Judge Duke settles into a seat. Eskerlus has come on board.
ESKERLUS
I wish I knew why this is a lousy
idea.
JUDGE DUKE
It's a great idea. Couple weeks of *
Angel, I'll come back, ease things *
up a little bit-- everybody's happy. *
ESKERLUS
(Unconvinced)
Yeah.
CONDUCTOR (O.S.)
All aboaaard!
JUDGE DUKE
What's the first case? *
ESKERLUS
The O'Brien kid knocked up his *
girlfriend.
The train starts to move. Neither man notices.
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 18
7-16-00
JUDGE DUKE
That should be good for, oh, ten
bucks and three days in jail.
ESKERLUS
I thought you wanted to get tough?
JUDGE DUKE
Okay, make it twenty bucks and a
week.
ESKERLUS
I'll pass it on to Angel. I just
can't shake the feelin' that
something's wrong.
His POV-- scenery sliding by as the train picks up speed.
ESKERLUS (CONT'D)
Well, hell!
He rushes toward the exit.
15 INT. TRAIN / REAR PLATFORM -- MOMENTS LATER 15
Eskerlus bursts out onto the rear platform. The train's
moving at a fast clip-- he readies for a spring-- almost *
jumps off-- loses his nerve-- looks around frantically for
an answer--
His POV:
A haywagon, parked beside the tracks, a little below the
level of the train.
Eskerlus times his jump-- *
Leaps--
Lands perfectly in the wagon. A sigh of relief, but--
His momentum causes the wagon to move slightly forward--
Just enough to get over a small rise. The wagon starts to
roll down the hill. Eskerlus feels the motion, he struggles
up, takes a look--
The road ahead winds down a steep hillside-- on the left it
drops away into a ravine.
Eskerlus SHRIEKS. The wagon picks up speed.
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 19
7-16-00
Eskerlus clings on for dear life. Ahead-- the road takes a
sharp turn-- the wagon will never make it.
But-- close on a dead tree sticking up out of the ravine,
right before the turn. A branch hangs out over the road.
Eskerlus gets to his feet as the hay wagon careens down the
road. He leaps--
Grabs the branch, pulls himself up--
The haywagon flies away under him, off the road, crashing
out of sight, a long way below. Eskerlus sighs with relief
as--
CRACK!
The dead tree starts to pull free under his weight--
The trunk comes up in a tangle of roots--
Eskerlus YELPS as--
The tree pivots as the roots tear loose, carrying Eskerlus
down and 180° around, finally dropping him down out of sight
into--
The ravine. He falls for a long time, CRASHING and YELPING
the whole way.
CUT TO:
16 INT. TRAIN -- CONTINUOUS 16
Judge Duke takes a deep puff on his cigar. The Conductor *
comes down the aisle. *
JUDGE DUKE
Hey, Conductor-- what's the first
stop?
CONDUCTOR
Blythe. Forty-five minutes.
JUDGE DUKE
Wake me when we get there.
He stubs out his cigar in the seatside ashtray, settles down *
with his hat over his eyes.
A hand sneaks out between the seats from behind, snags the
cigar.
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 20
7-16-00
Reveal-- Shaky Bill, lighting up the discarded cigar.
SHAKY BILL
So--
(Puffing)
The plan was afoot, and by the very
next day, there were big changes in
Yuma.
CUT TO:
17 EXT. COURT HOUSE -- DAY 17
The court house has been considerably cleaned up. Fritz and
Madame Boumtier, decently dressed, wrestle the piano down
the front steps. A crowd streaming in-- a party atmosphere.
CUT TO:
18 INT. COURT HOUSE / COURT ROOM -- DAY 18
An amused crowd, including a battered Eskerlus and the other *
Councilmen, young louts and dance hall girls. Angle on: *
Claude, with Lucy on his lap, and, next to him, Lucius with
Jean-Marie on his lap.
Close on-- Claude's fingers, interlaced over Lucy's pregnant
belly. He nuzzles her neck and she playfully shoos him away.
The two Bailiffs, ELBOW and KNEE, are running things. Elbow *
leaps to his feet. *
ELBOW
All rise fer the
honorable Actin'
Judge Angel Owens!
KNEE
All rise! All rise for
Judge Owens! All rise!
Angel enters through a door near the bench. His black judge's *
robes give him enormous dark dignity. He takes his seat at
the bench, lost in the moment. He runs his fingers down the
lapels, and along the smooth wood of the bench.
ANGLE ON
The crowd. Here for the show.
ANGLE ON
Angel. He's got the gavel, turning it over in his hands.
He raps it once, sharply.
(CONTINUED)
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Yuma-03 p. 21
7-16-00
ELBOW
District court 'a' Yuma, territory
of Arizona--
KNEE
Court is now in session.
ELBOW
Amen!
Knee glares at him.
ANGEL
First case?
KNEE
Claude O'Brien, yer honor. Callin'
Claude O'Brien!
ANGLE ON
The crowd-- Lucy slips off Claude's lap and he's helped up
by his friends. He's smirking and slightly drunk. He makes
his way to the well of the court, grins around the room.
ANGEL
Charge?
ELBOW
Shacking up, yer honor.
(A sharp glance from
Angel)
Co-habituation.
ANGEL
Yes...
HIS POV--
Julie, giggling, embarrassed but enjoying the attention.
ANGEL (CONT'D)
We know.
(To Claude)
So-- have you had relations with
this woman?
CLAUDE
Relations?
(Big joke)
We're gonna have a kid! That's a
relation.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 22
7-16-00
This gets a laugh. Angel looks around the courtroom-- he's
not amused.
ANGEL
You're not married to this woman.
CLAUDE
We ain't got 'round to it yet. But
we's engaged.
ANGEL
Engaged. Not married. But you've
been... sleeping with her?
CLAUDE
(Playing dumb)
Sleep?
Another laugh. Angel is starting to feel like he's being
made a fool of.
ANGEL
I'm talking about...
(Tries to think of a
way to say it)
...Intercourse.
CLAUDE
Inner-what?
ANGEL
Intercourse! Sexual intercourse!
CLAUDE
(Big show of thinking)
Um... you mean--
He makes the universal hip-and-knees movement for sex.
ANGEL
(Tight-lipped)
Yes.
More laughter. Angel bangs his gavel-- the laughter
continues. He's getting angry.
ANGEL (CONT'D)
Did you?
CLAUDE
Hell, yes!
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 23
7-16-00
A big laugh. Eskerlus is enjoying it as much as anyone.
Angel is furious-- he bangs his gavel, but Eskerlus silences
the crowd with a gesture.
ESKERLUS
Yer honor-- cases like this, Judge
Duke thinks a twenty buck fine's
about right.
ANGEL
Does he?
There's something about his face and voice that worries
Eskerlus.
ESKERLUS
'Course... You might go as high
as... fifty?
CLAUDE
Fifty!
ANGEL
Oh, I might go a bit higher.
ANGLE ON
Lucius, bouncing Jean-Marie on his knee.
LUCIUS
You in fer it now, Claude!
Another big laugh. Angel waits for it to die down.
ANGEL
Claude O'Brian, I find you in
violation not only of the laws of
this territory, but, more important,
the laws of God. For it is written,
"They shall marry and give in *
marriage." Isn't that right, Parson?
PARSON BRIDGER
Well, yes, technically, but-- *
ANGEL
(Ignoring him)
And yet, you stand here, confessing
an illicit relationship with this
woman.
CLAUDE
Confessin'? Hell, I'm braggin'!
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 24
7-16-00
He expects a laugh, but he doesn't get one. He's the only
one in the room who hasn't picked up on Angel's icy mood.
CLAUDE (CONT'D)
What?
ANGEL
By the power vested in me by the
Territory of Arizona, I sentence
you, Claude O'Reilly, to be taken
away to a place of imprisonment and
thereupon to be hanged by the neck
until you are dead.
A long, silent beat.
CLAUDE
Huh?
Pandemonium-- screaming and shouting from the crowd, Julie
faints, the two Bailiffs grab Claude to hustle him out of
the room. Lucius runs to his side as he's hauled out.
CLAUDE (CONT'D)
Lucius! Go tell my sister! Tell
Izzy!
He's dragged out of sight.
Angel surveys the chaos serenely. Tiny Dr. Doctor Conklin *
wiggles his way to the bench. *
DOCTOR CONKLIN *
It's supposed to be a ten-dollar
fine! *
ANGEL
The law's like a scarecrow,
Councilman. It's no good when it
stops frightening the birds.
(He BANGS the gavel)
Court adjourned.
He sweeps through the rear door in a billow of black robes. *
Eskerlus and the other Councilmen are aghast. Eskerlus gives *
them a disgusted look and exits through the same door Angel *
used. *
CUT TO: *
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 25
7-16-00
19 INT. COURT HOUSE / ANGEL'S CHAMBERS -- CONTINUOUS *19
Angel is hanging up his robe as Eskerlus bangs the door shut *
behind him. *
ANGEL *
I believe it's customary to knock. *
ESKERLUS *
Listen here, you! Where d'ya get *
off stretchin' a man's neck for for *
a little rumpty-pumpty? *
ANGEL *
That "little rumpty-pumpty" is a *
flaunting of the laws of man and *
God. *
ESKERLUS *
You execute every "flaunter," that'll *
knock off ninety percent of town! *
ANGEL *
But the ten percent who're left, *
they'll be the decent ones. *
ESKERLUS *
Decent! More like, they'll just be *
too dumb to get into trouble! Just *
because you still got a bug up your *
ass about Mary Anne-- *
Enormous change in Angel-- all his cool evaporates. *
ANGEL *
Don't you speak her name! *
ESKERLUS *
She-- *
ANGEL *
That's enough! *
(A deep breath) *
Councilman, I am the acting judge. *
Do you know the penalty for *
interfering with my work? *
ESKERLUS *
Lemme guess-- bein' hanged? Bein' *
stoned? Bein' fed to the lions?
ANGEL *
Get out. *
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 26
7-16-00
Eskalus bows deeply in mock respect and exits. *
CUT TO: *
20 EXT. DESERT -- DAY 20
Yee-hah! Lucius spurs his horse as he races across the sand.
The horizon stretches off to infinity in every direction--
nothing but sand and cactus, except--
A lone building stands in the middle of nowhere-- gray,
weatherbeaten, with a faded sign: "Golden Papoose: Last Beer
for 150 Miles."
Lucius rockets past the building. A few seconds pass. He
rockets back, swings down, ties up his horse, and enters.
21 INT. SALOON -- CONTINUOUS 21
Lucius steps through the swinging doors, unable to see much.
LUCIUS
Howdy! I'd like a tall, cold--
He YELPS-- Everybody in the saloon is an Indian. A MEDICINE
MAN behind the bar, Indians standing by the roulette wheel,
squaws waiting tables, a musical quartet of braves up on a
small stage. Everybody in traditional tribal gear, looking,
well, Indian-- unsmiling, enigmatic.
Lucius starts to back out, but he's stopped by--
THE CHIEF-- in full tribal head-dress.
CHIEF
How.
LUCIUS
(Terrified)
Ummm... How?
CHIEF
Sit.
A Brave holds a chair for Lucius and the Chief firmly helps
him into it. A pretty young SQUAW in a low-cut beaded leather
gown steps up.
SQUAW
(Unaccented English)
May I take your order?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 27
7-16-00
LUCIUS
My what?
SQUAW
The bear fat with maize dressing is
very good today. Or will you be
having the buffet?
LUCIUS
Uh, yeah, I'll take that. Sure.
SQUAW
And to drink?
LUCIUS
Whiskey.
SQUAW
We have Old Rebel and Four Cactus on
tap, and Army Firewater in bottles.
LUCIUS
I'll take the Old Rebel.
SQUAW
I'll be right back. Enjoy the show.
LUCIUS
Uh, thanks...
She wiggles off. Lucius starts to relax until he realizes
that the Chief is still standing at his elbow.
LUCIUS (CONT'D)
How!
CHIEF
(Grave)
How.
LUCIUS
Uh... What is this place?
CHIEF
It is the future.
LUCIUS
How's that?
CHIEF
I saw it on my vision quest. Three
days did I fast in the desert.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 28
7-16-00
CHIEF (CONT'D)
No food. No water. No sleep. And
then-- a vision.
LUCIUS
Of what?
CHIEF
Many, many moons from now, my people
will no longer hunt the buffalo or
fish the rivers. We will not farm
the land for our bread. Instead, we
will thrive by providing white man
with reasonably-priced drinks, all-
you-can-eat lunches and top
entertainmnt.
LUCIUS
That so?
CHIEF
(Nodding towards stage)
We have Lily Langtry booked for next
month. But, mostly, we will feed
our papooses with gambling.
LUCIUS
Gambling? Cards and roulette and
that such?
CHIEF
That... and another game, the greater
game, the game that came to me in a
vision. Do you wish to play?
LUCIUS
Well, hell, yes.
The Chief produces a deer-hide scroll, and makes a little
ceremony of placing it on the table before Lucious. With a
flourish, he unrolls it to reveal, carefully drawn onto the
leather--
A Bingo card.
SMASH CUT TO:
22 EXT. DESERT -- LATER 22
Lucius is again racing across the sand-- he's been stripped
down to his longjohns. Across his horse's ass is a Neolithic
bumper sticker-- "I Got Babied at the Golden Papoose."
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 29
7-16-00
Lucius comes up on a walled, mission-style compound. He
slides to a stop by an iron gate and dismounts sharply--
right on top of a cactus.
LUCIUS
Shit! Shit! Oh, God! Oh, Jesus!
Jesus H. fucking Christ in a chicken
basket!
He looks up to see--
On the other side of the gate, he's being watched-- and
listened to-- by a somber group of black-clad nuns.
LUCIUS (CONT'D)
Um... hi.
CUT TO:
23 INT. CONVENT -- MOMENTS LATER 23
Lucius, waddling in pain, is led down a hallway by the MOTHER
SUPERIOR.
MOTHER SUPERIOR
You must not disturb her peace of *
mind. This very afternoon she takes *
the veil.
LUCIUS
Takes it where? *
MOTHER SUPERIOR
Her holy orders. Henceforward, she *
will have naught to do with man and
man's world, but live a life of prayer
and devotion to our Lord.
At her last words, they pause before a carving of Jesus on
the cross. The Mother Superior genuflects reverently. Lucius
nods at the carving.
LUCIUS
(To Jesus) *
How ya doin'? Look, I just need to
talk to her.
MOTHER SUPERIOR
You may speak with her-- briefly--
but you must do nothing to ripple
the tranquil pond of her soul. *
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 30
7-16-00
LUCIUS
No sweat. No ripples. *
They've come to a small, plain door. The Mother Superior
gives Lucius one last sharp look and opens it.
The room inside is very bare, but very clean and somehow
pleasant.
In the farthest corner, ISABEL sits on her narrow bed, reading
a breviary. She is 18. She looks up-- she's unspeakably
beautiful, with solemn, serious eyes.
ISABEL
Lucius?
LUCIUS
Hey, Izzy, Claude's in deep shit. *
CUT TO:
24 INT. BANK -- DAY *24
Snellborn, the bank president, flutters around amongst the *
tellers. He looks up-- and is alarmed to see-- *
Angel, blocking the doorway. *
Snellborn oozes up to Angel. *
SNELLBORN *
Why, Judge Owens-- to what do I owe *
this plea-- *
ANGEL *
Your office. *
CUT TO: *
25 INT. BANK / SNELLBORN'S OFFICE -- MOMENTS LATER *25
Angel is taking his time getting to the point, making *
Snellborn sweat. He's looking at the bank calendar on the *
wall, examines the inkwell on Snellborn's desk, checks his
watch by the big clock on the wall.
ANGEL
You're a minute slow.
SNELLBORN
No, I'm quite sure that clock is--
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 31
7-16-00
ANGEL
A minute slow.
SNELLBORN
A minute slow, yes.
ANGEL *
You know why I'm here? *
Snellborn is terrified. *
SNELLBORN *
Well, no, actually, now that you *
ask. Our books are--
ANGEL *
This isn't about the books. *
(Beat) *
'Least, not directly. *
SNELLBORN *
(Lost) *
No? *
ANGEL
You know, a town like this, a lot of
talk goes around. Folks tell stories.
I've been hearing one particular
story for some time.
SNELLBORN
Stories? About me?
ANGEL
About you and that red-headed piano
player.
SNELLBORN
Fritz? Why, we're just good friends.
(Beat)
I happen to be a music lover.
Angel gives him a long, hard look. Snellborn starts to
crumble.
SNELLBORN (CONT'D)
Is that what you wanted to talk to
me about?
ANGEL *
No, actually, it isn't. At least, *
not yet. This is about mortgages.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 32
7-16-00
ANGEL (CONT'D)
About one mortgage, in particular. *
CUT TO: *
26 INT. CONVENT / ISABEL'S CELL -- LATER *26
Lucius sits on the one wooden chair. The Mother Superior
stands, disapproving. Isobel sits as before. A single tear
rolls down her cheek.
LUCIUS
An', the hell of it is, Claude's all
set to marry Julie, but Angel won't
let him. He wants your brother to
swing.
ISABEL
Poor Claude. How sad that he has
never followed the light of virtue.
LUCIUS
Yeah, whatever. Point is, he needs
you to go talk to Angel.
ISABEL
But why would Deputy Owens listen to *
me? *
LUCIUS
(Suddenly
Shakespearean,
declaiming:)
"Our doubts are traitors, and make
us lose the good we might often win,
by fearing to attempt it."
ISABEL
...What?
LUCIUS
(Has no idea what he
just said)
Uh... I mean, go see him, cry a
little, you know, you'll, uh, soften
him right up.
Still a little dazed, Lucius tries to shake off the sudden
attack of Shakespeare.
ISABEL
Very well.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 33
7-16-00
ISABEL (CONT'D)
(Rises; to Mother
Superior)
I go forth one last time into man's
world. I shall soon return, to
nevermore venture out again.
MOTHER SUPERIOR
Go with God, my daughter.
Isabel exits, followed by the Mother Superior and Lucius.
LUCIUS
(To himself)
"Our doubts are traitors"? Jesus.
Where'd that come from?
CUT TO:
27 INT. HOTEL BLYTHE -- AFTERNOON 27
The best hotel in Blythe, Arizona Territory. Judge Duke
settles down to a table. A waiter bustles over with a flagon
of beer.
WAITER
Good afternoon, Judge Duke. How
nice to have you with us today.
JUDGE DUKE
Thanks, Henry. I'll have my usual.
WAITER
Fine. That'll be squirrel meat in
gravy, a porterhouse steak, two turkey
drumsticks with dressing, half a
chicken, corned beef hash, sweet
potatoes, baked potatoes, fried
potatoes, three ears of corn and a
peach pie?
JUDGE DUKE
I'm not that hungry today. Skip the
corn.
WAITER
Yes, sir. Would you care for a
newspaper?
JUDGE DUKE
I would, thank you.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 34
7-16-00
He lights a cigar, a man without a care in the world. A
BEAUTIFUL WOMAN at a nearby table looks at him over the rim
of her glass. He winks at her. She winks at him. He smiles.
She smiles. He takes a sip of his beer as the Waiter puts a
newspaper down in front of him.
Close on the headline-- "YUMA MAN TO BE HANGED FOR
FORNICATION." An instant later-- the paper is drenched in
beer as Judge Duke gasps in horror.
CUT TO:
28 EXT. COURTHOUSE -- EVENING 28
Lucius and Isabel ride up on Lucius' horse. In the court
house square, a gallows is being completed by a couple of *
WORKMEN, under the direction of a HANGMAN. The Hangman's
face is entirely concealed under an enveloping hood with
eyeholes cut in it. He has an English accent and a very
bad, exasperated attitude.
HANGMAN
(English accent)
No, you idiots, not like that!
Transverse! Must I do everything
myself?
Isabel takes a good look at it before following Lucius into
the courthouse.
29 INT. COURT HOUSE / LOBBY 29
Elbow is snoring on a chair.
Isabel pauses before going through the big courtroom doors.
ISABEL
But what do I say to him?
LUCIUS
Just talk to him.
CUT TO:
30 INT. COURTHOUSE / COURT ROOM -- EVENING 30
Angel is at the high judge's bench, doing paperwork by candle
light. He's his usual grim self.
Apart from the area around his desk, the room is dark.
Footsteps approach the bench through the gloom.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 35
7-16-00
ANGEL
(Not looking up)
Yes?
ISABEL (O.S.)
Deputy Owens?
ANGEL
(Still not looking up)
Judge Owens. What do you want?
ISABEL (O.S.)
I want my brother's life.
Now he looks up.
His POV:
Isabel walks slowly forward into the circle of light. She's
lovely.
ANGEL
Your brother is Claude O'Brian.
ISABEL
Yes, your honor.
ANGEL
He's been sentenced and he's going
to die. Good night.
He goes back to his paperwork, grim and forbidding. Isabel
is about to say something else, but turns away. Angel looks
up and watches her vanish into the darkness.
CUT TO:
31 INT. COURTHOUSE / LOBBY -- MOMENTS LATER 31
Isobel comes through the double doors. Lucio's been
listening. He's incensed. Elbow still snores in a chair.
LUCIUS
(Angry whisper)
That's it?
ISABEL
He said no.
LUCIUS
Well, hell! You sounded like you
was askin' to borrow a pencil!
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 36
7-16-00
ISABEL
What should I--
LUCIUS
Plead! Scream! Cry! Anything! Go *
down on your knees and beg!
ISABEL
(Affronted)
On my knees?
LUCIUS
Less'n you want to see your brother
take a rope ride to the great
whatever. *
ISABEL
But--
LUCIUS
In!
Isabel goes back in.
CUT TO:
32 INT. COURTHOUSE / COURT ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER 32
As before. Angel's pen scratches on paper as Isabel
approaches the bench.
ANGEL
Yes?
Isabel starts to drop to her knees, but can't bring herself
to do it. Instead, she stands up even straighter.
ISABEL
I beg you for mercy.
ANGEL
Your brother--
ISABEL
My brother has done a wicked thing.
My brother is a bad man.
ANGEL
(A little surprised)
Yes.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 37
7-16-00
ISABEL
But he's not an evil man. Does he
really deserve this punishment?
Angel is taking in how beautiful Isabel is. But he's got a
grip on himself.
ANGEL *
It's out of my hands. *
ISABEL *
You sentenced him. You could commute *
the sentence. *
ANGEL
It's too late. The verdict has been
lawfully reached and lawfully
recorded.
ISABEL
Too late?
(Angry)
Too late? A man will die because
you've already filled out the papers?
That's justice?
ANGEL
Justice is what I say it is.
ISABEL
(Rising towards fury)
I thought justice was what God says
it is!
ANGEL
The subject is closed. Get out.
ISABEL
What about mercy?
ANGEL
(Calling)
Bailiff!
CUT TO:
33 INT. COURTHOUSE / LOBBY -- CONTINUOUS 33
The shout wakes Elbow-- he starts to get up, but Lucius raps
him smartly over the head with a gun butt and he goes back
to sleep, happy.
CUT TO:
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 38
7-16-00
34 INT. COURTHOUSE / COURT ROOM -- CONTINUOUS 34
As before.
ISABEL
Is mercy what you say it is? Do you
define that, too?
ANGEL
Look--
ISABEL
You look! Look in your own heart!
Ask yourself if you've ever committed
the crime my brother has.
ANGEL
Never!
ISABEL
Then ask yourself if you could. If
the man of the spirit is always above
the man of the flesh and blood. If
you could ever fall to temptation,
and, if you did, whether you could
always resist it, and if you didn't,
whether you'd deserve to die for it,
the way you want my brother to die!
Look in your heart! What do you
see? What do you see!
What Angel sees is Isabel-- tears are streaming down her
face; even Angel can't help being affected by this. But he
hangs on. He swallows hard.
ANGEL
That doesn't matter. He dies,
tomorrow.
ISABEL
(A gasp)
Tomorrow! Oh, no...
(A wail)
Not so soon!
Now she does drop to her knees, kneeling and begging.
ISABEL (CONT'D)
Please! No! I can give you...
ANGEL
Give me what?
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 39
7-16-00
ANGEL (CONT'D)
(Suddenly hard again)
Are you offering me a bribe!
ISABEL
Yes! Not gold, not treasure--
ANGEL
(Half-contemptuous,
half-hopeful)
Then... what? What kind of "gift"--
ISABEL
Heaven itself! True prayers, prayers
from the soul whose life you've saved,
prayers from a fasting maiden
dedicated to nothing of this earth,
but everything of the glorious world
to come!
Angel: taken aback. Not what he expected to hear. A long
pause.
ANGEL *
...Are you married? *
ISABEL *
No, your honor. But I am about to *
become a bride of Christ. *
ANGEL *
Oh. Really? *
ISABEL *
I am to take holy orders, and spend *
my life in worship and devotion. *
Her face shines. She's touching something deep in Angel. *
ANGEL
Come see me tomorrow.
ISABEL
My brother dies tomorrow!
ANGEL
No. I'll give him a stay. 24 hours.
ISABEL
Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank
you, your honor!
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 40
7-16-00
She rises and, before he can stop her, grabs at his hand,
kissing it. He pulls it back.
ANGEL
Get out.
ISABEL
Yes, your honor!
She curtsies and runs off into the darkness. Angel stares
after her. He slips a finger inside his shirt, feeling his
heartbeat. He looks at the hand-- the one Isobel kissed.
He raises it to his own lips, uncertain.
CUT TO:
35 INT. JAIL -- NIGHT 35
Knee Froth snores on a chair, exactly the same posture and
sound as Elbow.
Claude sits in his cell, holding Julie's hand through the
bars. They look up as Lucius slams in. He flashes them a
big thumbs-up. Claude sags back in relief.
CUT TO:
36 INT. CLAUDE'S HOUSE -- NIGHT 36
Isabel stands, candlelit, before a mirror, brushing her hair.
She unbuttons her dress, lets it slip to the floor, steps
out of it, never losing contact with her eyes in the mirror.
She's wearing a corset and stockings. The stockings are
rolled down her sleek legs and placed neatly on the dresser.
The corset comes off; she stretches, her torso enjoying the
freedom of just a camisole. She still looks at herself in *
the mirror. Close on her face as she slips the camisole up *
over her head. Her fingertips are on her throat-- we follow
them as they trail down over her collarbone, her upper chest,
down onto her breasts--
Except, where her breasts should be are two red, demonic
faces, pointed teeth and sharp horns and laughing--
ANGEL (O.S.)
Whaaaaaaaaarrrggghh!
SMASH CUT TO:
37 INT. ANGEL'S HOUSE -- NIGHT 37
Angel comes bolt upright in bed, gasping. It takes him a
second to get a grip.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 41
7-16-00
He tries to shake off the dream, staggers out of bed.
CUT TO:
38 EXT. ANGEL'S HOUSE -- MOMENTS LATER 38
Angel trudges through the back yard. He's talking to God. *
ANGEL *
Satan tempts me with harlots and *
hussies and I hold firm. *
CUT TO: *
39 INT. ANGEL'S ICE HOUSE -- DAY 39
A small, heavily insulated shed. A big block of ice stands
on a table in the center of the room as Angel enters, still *
talking. He smashes away at the ice with an ice pick. *
ANGEL *
Every sort of vice, the Master of *
Lies sent them all and all I resisted. *
CUT TO: *
40 EXT. ANGEL'S HOUSE -- MOMENTS LATER 40
Angel trudges over to the yard pump with a large bowl of
ice. He pumps water into the ice, still talking. *
ANGEL *
But-- hah!-- then Satan sent me a *
creature of virtue and purity to *
tempt me! *
He's stripping off his nightshirt. *
ANGEL (CONT'D) *
And how can I resist that? *
He dumps the icewater over his head. *
ANGEL (CONT'D) *
Oh, God! *
ISABEL (O.S.)
Judge?
Angel whips around-- Isabel is standing by the fence, as we
last saw her.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 42
7-16-00
ANGEL
Miss O'Brien?
ISABEL
You told me to come tomorrow, but I
couldn't sleep, and I thought...
Angel moves closer to her. Only the split-rail fence
separates them.
ISABEL (CONT'D)
I thought...
ANGEL
You thought what?
ISABEL
I thought... if I were to see you...
you might...
ANGEL
I thought you were sworn to be a
bride of Christ?
ISABEL
Yes... but I saw you, and wondered,
have I not poorly judged the merits
of being a bride of man?
Their eyes are locked. She turns her face up to his, shining
in the moonlight. He lowers his lips to hers--
She opens her mouth to him-- opens it wider, wider, her teeth
grow to sharp points, her skin reddens, horns sprout from
her forehead, her eyes glow bright yellow--
Angel tries to pull back but her talon fingers are locked
into his shoulders, drawing blood. He screams as--
Her jaws open two feet wide, she strikes forward and--
Swallows his entire head, her jaws closed on his neck. She
rears back and swings his whole body from side to side, his
limbs writhing and struggling--
SMASH CUT TO:
41 INT. ANGEL'S HOUSE -- NIGHT 41
Angel comes bolt upright in bed, again, gasping, just like
before. This time the dream has hold of him even harder--
It takes him longer to get free of it. He almost falls
getting out of bed, tangled in his covers.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 43
7-16-00
He throws them off and staggers outside.
CUT TO:
42 EXT. ANGEL'S HOUSE -- MOMENTS LATER 42
Angel trudges through the back yard again. *
ANGEL
What have I done? What's in my heart
that I should suffer like this?
He reaches the pump and squirts water onto his head. He
towels himself off, just as--
A shadow falls over him. He looks up, screams, an instant
before--
A gigantic devil's foot, twelve feet across, smashes him
into the ground.
Reveal: Shaky Bill, leaning over the fence, interested.
SHAKY BILL
(To us)
This went on pretty much all night.
CUT TO:
43 VARIOUS -- MORNING 43
A rooster CROWS.
Quick shots of the citizens of Yuma, asleep or awakening:
Froth and Elbow, both in the jail now, their chairs tilting
back unsteadily against each other.
Claude, sleeping uneasily in his jail bunk.
Isabel, on her knees in silent prayer.
Tiny Doctor Doctor Conklin, kissing one of the dance hall
girls goodbye before slipping out the window.
Councilman Eskerlus, kissing Madame Boumtier goodbye before
slipping out the window. *
Councilman Snellborn, kissing Fritz, the red-headed dance
hall piano player goodbye before slipping out the window.
Angel, at his table, pouring a cup of coffee, haunted and
haggard and sleepless.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 44
7-16-00
And, from a distance:
A grizzled old PROSPECTOR and a donkey stand on a hill,
looking down at the awakening village. We only see them
from behind as they start walking down the hill into town.
CUT TO:
44 INT. COURTHOUSE -- MORNING 44
Shaky Bill, snoring like a dredge, when a hand claps down *
over his mouth. He comes instantly awake, doing a fast draw *
of guns he isn't actually wearing. He stops struggling when
he sees the face which belongs to the hand-- something we *
don't see. His eyes widen in surprise. *
CUT TO:
45 EXT. YUMA MAIN STREET -- MORNING 45
Isabel, radiant in a white dress, makes her way through the
early-morning bustle. Everywhere she goes, heads turn. She
pauses at a corner, gathers her skirts, hesitates before
stepping into the muddy street. PARSON BRIDGER and his
dreadful battleaxe wife, MRS. BRIDGE, are coming along the
sidewalk. Parson Bridger stops.
PARSON BRIDGER
Madame--
He strips off his coat and lays it across the puddle. Isabel
rewards him with a bright smile before she crosses. He picks
up the coat and shakes it out, turns back to Mrs. Bridge--
who raps him sharply on the forehead with her walking stick.
46 INT. COURTHOUSE / COURT ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER 46
Isabel sweeps in through the double doors. The room is bright
with sunshine, but empty except for Elbow and Knee, who, in
inappropriate frilly aprons, are busy dusting.
ISABEL
I have come to see--
ELBOW
Allow me.
KNEE
My pleasure--
They collide in their attempt to out-gallant each other.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 45
7-16-00
47 INT. COURTHOUSE / ANGEL'S CHAMBERS -- CONTINUOUS 47
The shades are down and the room is dim. Angel has a small
mirror and is trying to slick back his hair. He's a lot
more discomposed than we've ever seen him. A KNOCK--
ANGEL
Come--
(His voice breaks, he
tries again)
Come in.
Isabel opens the door, framed by Knee and Elbow. For a
moment, as she stands in the bright light from the court
room, the light shines through her dress and she seems to be
just a naked silhouette.
ANGEL (CONT'D)
Gah!
Isabel steps in. The two Bailiffs hover in the doorway,
clearly interested.
ANGEL (CONT'D)
You two--
He hands them a mass of papers from the desk.
ANGEL (CONT'D)
Warrants. Serve 'em.
ELBOW
Oh, sure, boss, right
after--
KNEE
You got it, we'll 'em
soon as--
ANGEL
Now.
They slip out, closing the door, leaving Angel alone with
Isabel. Angel, trying to keep a grip, motions her into a
chair.
ANGEL (CONT'D)
Um... good morning.
ISABEL
Good morning, your honor.
ANGEL
Would you like some, uh, water?
He makes a gesture and almost knocks the pitcher over. He
grabs it just in time.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 46
7-16-00
ISABEL
No, thank you, your honor.
ANGEL
Now then.
(Clears his throat)
Well. I've been giving a lot of
thought to you-- to what you said,
what you said last night... You made
some good points.
ISABEL
Thank you, your honor.
ANGEL
Yes, well, I've decided-- decided,
essentially, not to decide. Not
just yet.
ISABEL
Your honor?
ANGEL
I mean to say, Claude, your brother,
he's still under sentence of death.
But there's no reason we have to
rush things, be in any kind of hurry
to, you know, um--
A quick fist-up-over-head and choking face to simulate a man
being hanged.
ANGEL (CONT'D)
So, for right now, until I come to a
final decision, we'll just... wait.
ISABEL
You mean... you've commuted his
sentence?
ANGEL
Well, in practical terms, I suppose--
ISABEL
Oh, your honor!
She's on her feet, moving around his desk towards him.
ISABEL (CONT'D)
Thank you! Thank you.
His chair is on wheels and he scoots away from her, but she
grabs one of his hands to kiss. He snatches it back.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 47
7-16-00
ANGEL
Let's keep things professional, shall
we?
She's still pursuing him, he runs into a wall, she embraces
him, squeezing his head between her breasts as she
rhapsodizes.
ISABEL
The angels will praise you! I will
praise you! My prayers will light
your path to heaven!
He squirns free-- his chair squirts off to the side, the
wheel hits the edge of the carpet and catches-- Angel goes
over backwards. His head hits the ground with a KLUNK.
ISABEL (CONT'D)
Your honor!
She's on him in a second, helping her up. He's still trying
to escape from her, he springs to his feet, she's backing
him into another corner.
ISABEL (CONT'D)
Are you hurt!
ANGEL
No! Fine! I'm fine!
ISABEL
Your poor head--
She dabs at his temple with a lace hanky-- it must be scented,
or she must be, because Angel takes a deeeeeeep breath and
almost passes out.
He takes a step back and-- clang!-- steps into an empty tinder *
bucket by the fireplace. His foot's wedged in the bucket. *
ISABEL (CONT'D)
Here-- Let me--
ANGEL *
No! It's all right! *
Angel retreats, one foot clanging in the bucket whenever he *
takes a step. Isabel reaches for the bucket, Angel lurches *
back, and goes over again with another klunk. This time *
she's holding him when he falls and she ends up on top of *
him, her face hovering an inch over his. *
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 48
7-16-00
ISABEL *
Oops. *
ANGEL *
Uh... oops. *
Isabel starts to laugh-- it really is an absurd situation. *
Angel laughs too, weakly, until-- *
ANGEL (CONT'D) *
Oh, God! *
He grabs her face and kisses her-- a kiss a kiss that *
surprises him almost as much as it does her. *
It takes Isabel a second to realize what's going on-- and
she doesn't like it. She tries to pull free.
ISABEL
Judge! Let go! *
ANGEL *
Isabel! *
ISABEL *
Let go of me! *
She pulls free and onto her feet, livid. *
ISABEL (CONT'D) *
How dare you! *
ANGEL
(Very fast)
You were right! Last night! You
were right! About everything!
Now he's pursuing her around his desk-- not very fast, his *
foot is still clanging along in the bucket. *
ANGEL (CONT'D)
Sometimes the spirit can't control
the flesh and blood. Like now, for
instance.
ISABEL
Don't come any closer--
ANGEL
And you were right about Claude.
What he and the Carr girl did, what's *
the big deal, right?
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 49
7-16-00
ANGEL (CONT'D)
Show a little flexibility, right? I *
mean, this is the 1870's for crying *
out loud. Live a little. So-- *
ISABEL *
So? *
ANGEL
Why don't we? *
ISABEL
"Why don't we" what?
ANGEL
You know...
ISABEL
Are you serious?
ANGEL
Word of honor.
He makes a lunge for her, but she snatches up a huge law
book off his desk and-- WHAM-- right in the head!
ISABEL
(Furious)
"Word of honor." You have no honor,
your honor.
ANGEL
(Rubbing his head)
Oh, man...
Isabel flings paper and a pen at him.
ISABEL
Now, Deputy, here's what you're going
to do. You're going to write out a
full pardon for Claude, or every
living soul in Yuma will know what
you really are.
Angel picks up the paper and the pen. Beat. We don't know
what he's going to do. Then-- He slowly crumples the paper.
ANGEL
(Beat)
Who's going to believe you?
He's back to his old, cold self. *
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 50
7-16-00
ISABEL
I--
ANGEL
Your word against mine. Me?
(A bitter laugh)
--I've spent my whole life on the
straight and narrow. Never put a
foot wrong in 32 years on earth.
And you? You're a girl telling lies
to save her brother.
ISABEL
I swear by all that's holy, by
tomorrow morning I will ruin you.
ANGEL
And I swear that, by tomorrow night,
your brother will be in a box.
(Beat)
The deal's still on the table. You've
got until morning.
(Beat)
Now get out. I've got work to do.
Isabel exits, slamming the door behind her. Angel slumps
into a chair, face buried in his hands.
CUT TO:
48 EXT. YUMA MAIN STREET -- MOMENTS LATER 48
Isabel, crying, rushes along the muddy street, this time not
caring about her skirts.
She passes a donkey tethered by Mary Anne Frederick's place--
tall, sad Mary Anne is talking with the grizzled old
Prospector, crying herself, waving an official-looking *
document. The Prospector is invisible under a floppy hat *
and behind a bushy beard.
Isabel runs in through the jail doors. *
CUT TO:
49 INT. JAIL -- MOMENTS LATER 49
Claude is in his cell-- he leaps up as Isabel rushes in.
CLAUDE
Izzy! What's the good news?
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 51
7-16-00
CLAUDE (CONT'D)
(One look at her
face...)
Uh-oh...
CUT TO:
50 EXT. JAIL -- LATER 50
The donkey contentedly munches grass.
CUT TO:
51 INT. JAIL / OFFICE -- DAY 51
The Bailiffs, Knee and Elbow, try to listen in on Claude's
conversation with Isabel, just a murmur of voices from the
cell down the hall. A hand taps Knee on the shoulder-- he
looks up, and his eyes widen with delight as he sees--
A bottle of whiskey. Handed to him by someone o.s. The hand
gestures with a thumb-- "out." The bailiffs are only too
happy to go just as--
CLAUDE (O.S.)
He said what?
CUT TO:
52 INT. JAIL / CLAUDE'S CELL -- CONTINUOUS 52
As before. Claude paces in his cell.
CLAUDE
Lemme get this straight. That...
that law man told you he'd make me
swing less'n you 'n' he did the
horizontal polka? Why, that...
ISABEL
Hypocrite!
CLAUDE
Right. Who'd a' thought it?
(Beat)
So-- what'd you say?
ISABEL
I told him I was outraged! I knew,
I knew that you'd rather die thousand
times, die horribly, than agree to
what he offered.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 52
7-16-00
CLAUDE
(Without much
conviction)
Oh, sure, absolutely.
ISABEL
Oh, the beast! The monster! If it
was my life, Claude, if it was just
my life, I'd lay it down for you in
a moment. But I knew you couldn't
live, wouldn't want to live, without
honor.
CLAUDE
(Beat)
Look, Isabel...
ISABEL
Yes, dear Claude?
CLAUDE
Well... the thing of it is...
CUT TO:
53 INT. JAIL / OFFICE -- CONTINUOUS 53
The Prospector, listening.
CUT TO:
54 INT. JAIL / CLAUDE'S CELL -- CONTINUOUS 54
Claude, trying to formulate his idea.
CLAUDE
You look at it one way, and it's,
wow, just... terrible, just awful.
Him to say something like that. My
God, that's just... But, you know,
you look at it another way, and--
ISABEL
What?
CLAUDE
(Breaking down)
I don't wanna die! Oh, God! Isabel!
I don't wanna die!
CUT TO:
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 53
7-16-00
55 EXT. JAIL -- CONTINUOUS 55
The Prospector rolls his eyes.
CUT TO:
56 INT. JAIL -- CONTINUOUS 56
Claude is on his knees, clutching out through the bars to
the appalled Isabel.
CLAUDE
Save me! I'm only 20! I never even
voted!
ISABEL
Our father would turn in his grave!
CLAUDE
Better him than me! Come on, Iz,
it's no big deal! *
ISABEL *
Never! My honor--
CLAUDE
(Angry now)
Oh, yeah, I notice it ain't your neck
they're stretchin'!
ISABEL
You coward! You wretch! Would you
preserve your worthless life through
your sister's shame?
CLAUDE
Yeah! Yeah! As a matter of fact I *
would! So, how about it? *
Isabel, furious and betrayed, hoists her skirts, turns to
sweep out of the room-- and runs smack into--
The Prospector, who's appeared in the doorway.
ISABEL
Excuse me--
PROSPECTOR
Hee hee hee! Excuse me, little lady.
I couldn't help overhearin'.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 54
7-16-00
ISABEL
I don't believe this is any of your
business.
Take a good look at the Prospector. Even though nobody else
notices it, his bushy beard, moustache and eyebrows are
obvious fakes. So's the gray hair streaming down from under
his battered hat, and the way he talks sounds like a bad
Walter Brennan impression. In fact, he's really--
Judge Judge Duke in disguise-- So we'll call him by his real
name from here on.
JUDGE DUKE
You might-- hee hee hee-- be surprised
what's my business.
ISABEL
Who are you, anyway?
JUDGE DUKE
Somebody who-- hee hee hee-- knows
somethin' you don't know.
ISABEL
And-- "hee hee hee"-- what's that?
JUDGE DUKE
Judge Owens-- he was just testing
you a mite.
ISABEL
He what?
JUDGE DUKE
He wanted to see if you was really
as pure as he thunk you was.
ISABEL
Are you sure?
JUDGE DUKE
Y'see, Angel, he thinks he's mighty
pure. So he's always lookin' for *
folks who is as big on virtue as he
is. And, little lady, I think you
done passed the test.
Isabel ponders this.
CLAUDE
Excuse me-- Hello-- Maybe you forgot
me, I'm the condemned man?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 55
7-16-00
They turn back to Claude.
CLAUDE (CONT'D)
(To Judge Duke)
So, what's the deal with me? He
gonna pardon me or what?
JUDGE DUKE
Son, I'm afeared your goose is cooked.
You got a God, better make your peace--
and with anybody else important to
you.
Claude takes a long look at Isabel. He calms down.
CLAUDE
Iz? I'm sorry. I didn't mean it.
Forgive me?
She takes his hand through the bars.
ISABEL
Of course.
CLAUDE
I wouldn't want you thinkin'...
ISABEL
I don't.
CLAUDE
Thank you.
57 EXT. YUMA MAIN STREET -- MOMENTS LATER 57
Isabel and Judge Duke zigzag through the bustle.
ISABEL
If only Judge Duke was here! He
doesn't know what kind of man he's
put in charge.
JUDGE DUKE
You like Judge Duke? Isn't he a
mite loose in his ways?
ISABEL
I used to think so. But he wouldn't
let anything like this happen.
JUDGE DUKE
Look, missy-- you wanna save Claude's
britches?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 56
7-16-00
ISABEL
Not if--
JUDGE DUKE
Not what you're thinking, little
girl. You know her--?
He points with his chin. Isabel looks--
Her POV:
Mary Anne Frederick, RINGING a bell to bring in school kids
from recess.
ISABEL
Miss Frederick, the school teacher?
JUDGE DUKE
Here's somethin' I bet you didn't
know-- she and Angel usedta be
engaged.
ISABEL
Miss Frederick and Deputy Owens?
JUDGE DUKE
Her old man made her break it off.
Angel thought it was her, jiltin'
him. He ain't never been right since.
Now, he's havin' her evicted.
ISABEL
That-- that-- *
JUDGE DUKE *
Hee hee hee-- Maybe, just maybe
there's a way to set a lotta things
right-- includin' savin' your
brother's neck.
ISABEL
Will it cost me my honor?
JUDGE DUKE
Mmmmm... maybe a little. Nothing
you can't spare.
ISABEL
(Beat)
What do you want me to do?
CUT TO:
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 57
7-16-00
58 INT. COURTHOUSE / COURT ROOM -- AFTERNOON 58
Angel is on the bench, depressed and daydreaming and not
paying much attention.
LAWYER
(A drone)
And the party of the third part then
parted from the party of the second
part and partied with the party of
the fourth part in part by parting
the party of the fifth part from the
party of the first part.
(Suddenly screaming)
Hypocrite!
Now, a terrified Angel's in the dock, and the lawyer is
bearing down on him.
LAWYER (CONT'D)
Liar! Traitor to your every belief!
Vile seducer and betrayer!
ANGEL
I'm only a man!
LAWYER
A man? You are nothing but the
vilest, crawling slimy scum that...
that...
Back to reality-- Angel snaps out of his daydream. The lawyer
in front of him has fallen silent and is looking at something
at the rear of the courtroom. Angel follows his gaze to--
Isabel. Their eyes meet before she lowers hers, demurely.
Angel breaks out in a sweat and swallows hard.
ANGEL
(croaking)
Ten minute recess.
CUT TO:
59 INT. COURTHOUSE / ANGEL'S CHAMBERS -- MOMENTS LATER 59
Angel closes the door.
ANGEL
About last night--
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 58
7-16-00
ISABEL
Do you always keep your promises?
ANGEL
Always.
ISABEL
If I come to you tonight...
Their eyes lock--
Angel's mind's eye-- a flashback to his dream-- Isabel growing
horns, turning red, and--
He shakes off the image.
ISABEL (CONT'D)
Are you all right?
ANGEL
I'm fine. What were you saying?
ISABEL
There must be complete darkness. I
don't want you to see me.
ANGEL
Fine!
Behind them, unseen, Shaky Bill peers through the window.
60 EXT. COURTHOUSE -- AFTERNOON 60
Shaky Bill chuckles to himself and steps off the crate he's
standing on to look through the window. He spots a cigar
butt in the gutter, strikes a match on the seat of his pants,
takes a puff and turns to the camera.
SHAKY BILL
So-- here's the plan. Isabel's gonna--
A scream interrupts him.
MADAME BOUMTIER (O.S.)
Leggo!
Madame Boumtier and Fritz, the piano player, are being dragged
towards the courtroom by Knee and Elbow.
FRITZ
Take your hands off me!
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 59
7-16-00
Judge Duke is nearby, pretending to adjust the saddlebags on
his mule.
JUDGE DUKE
What-- hee hee hee- seems to be the
trouble, constables?
KNEE
None 'o' your business, old timer.
JUDGE DUKE
Well, I reckon that bottle o' whiskey
I give you last night makes it my
business. Less'n you want me to
make it the Judge's business?
Knee and Elbow stop dead and look at each other. *
ELBOW *
(Grudgingly, re Madame *
Boumtier)
Runnin' a disorderly house--
(re Fritz)
Lewd behavior.
FRITZ
Lewd-- Well, I never! Lucius!
Lucius!
Coming towards them down the sidewalk, Lucius tries to pretend
he hasn't heard. Lucius has changed with the times-- he's
doing his best to act respectable.
MADAME BOUMTIER
Lucius!
LUCIUS
Can't stop-- late for bible study.
MADAME BOUMTIER
Bible study?
As proof, Lucius holds up a bible, upside down. *
LUCIUS
Followin' the lord is the only true
path.
MADAME BOUMTIER
You can follow him later. I need
you to make bail.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 60
7-16-00
LUCIUS
(Affronted)
Me?
(He sniffs)
Madame, I hardly know you.
MADAME BOUMTIER
That so-- what about Jean-Marie?
You hardly know her?
(Lucius' face falls)
What's Judge Shithead gonna say when
he finds out she's got your bun in
her oven? You think he'll treat you
any different than he's treatin'
Claude?
Elbow and Knee drag the prisoners into the courtroom.
JUDGE DUKE
Jean-Marie?
LUCIUS
Just a friend-- nothing more.
(Under Judge Duke's
amused gaze)
A close friend. From before.
JUDGE DUKE
Before?
LUCIUS
Before I found the one true path...
JUDGE DUKE
Hee hee hee-- mighty convenient
timin', I reckon.
LUCIUS
(From a vast height
of dignity)
It's not like I did anything terrible.
Even Judge Duke...
JUDGE DUKE
What about him?
LUCIUS
The high and mighty hangin' judge!
He's got the morals of a jack rabbit.
JUDGE DUKE
That so?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 61
7-16-00
LUCIUS
Oh, sure. Young, old, married,
single, if it's in a skirt, he'll
bang it with his gavel.
JUDGE DUKE
(Slow burn)
And you know this how?
LUCIUS
Oh, me and Judge Duke, we're like
that--
(Suddenly remembers
who he's trying to
be)
A pity he's never found--
JUDGE DUKE
--the path of true virtue, yeah.
LUCIUS *
Well, off I go-- today we're doing *
First Corinthians.
He ambles away. Judge Duke watches him go, shaking his head. *
CUT TO: *
61 INT. MARY ANNE'S HOUSE / PARLOR 61
Judge Duke and Mary Anne look up as Isabel comes in. She's
twirling a key on a chain, and looks very proud of herself.
ISABEL
Like shooting fish in a barrel.
Catch.
She tosses the key to Mary Anne.
ISABEL (CONT'D)
He's expecting me at midnight. I've
told him, there are to be no lights. *
And I can only stay a short while. *
JUDGE DUKE
What about Claude?
ISABEL
He goes free tomorrow.
(To Mary Anne)
You sure you want this guy?
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 62
7-16-00
MARY ANNE
He's not a bad man.
ISABEL
Can't prove it by me.
MARY ANNE
He has my heart.
SMASH CUT TO:
62 EXT. ANGEL'S HOUSE -- NIGHT 62
A sliver of moon overhead. Mary Anne and Isabel approach
Angel's house.
MARY ANNE
I can love no other man.
ISABEL
But he's so--
MARY ANNE
No. He is a good man, or he tries
to be. He's just confused, and his
confusion makes him harsh. But my
love will save him.
ISABEL
It's your life. Good luck. And-- *
thank you.
MARY ANNE
Thank you.
Mary Anne slips away; a moment later she lets herself into
Angel's house. Isabel sighs and vanishes into the darkness.
CUT TO: *
63 INT. ANGEL'S HOUSE -- MOMENTS LATER 63
Very dim, lit only by pale moonlight through the window.
Nothing but silhouettes to be seen. Angel is in bed.
ANGEL
(Voice cracking)
Isabel? I--
MARY ANNE
Shhh.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 63
7-16-00
Across the room, Mary Anne, only a suggestion of a figure in
the gloom, rustles as she slips her dress off.
ANGEL
I-- I--
Mary Anne pulls the shade, blocking out the moonlight. The
room goes completely black.
The bedsprings CREAK as she gets in.
ANGEL (CONT'D)
Look, I want you to know... I want
you, but... this is so hard for me
to say... I want to tell you that
you don't have to... you don't...
Oh, God...
CUT TO:
64 EXT. ANGEL'S HOUSE -- CONTINUOUS 64
Judge Duke and Shaky Bill watching the dark house. He turns
and they walk towards town, very self-satisfied.
JUDGE DUKE *
So, everything's taken care of. *
SHAKY BILL
Sure is.
JUDGE DUKE
Long as nothin' disturbs Angel for
the next hour 'r so, all our troubles
are over.
SHAKY BILL
Sure are.
JUDGE DUKE
Everything's gonna be all right now.
Right?
SHAKY BILL
Absolutely. *
HANGMAN
Excuse us, excuse us--
Knee, Elbow and the hooded HANGMAN, carrying a noose, hustle *
the blindfolded Claude down the street towards the courthouse *
gallows. *
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuma-03 p. 64
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JUDGE DUKE *
Now what? *
65 EXT. COURTHOUSE / GALLOWS -- NIGHT *65
The Hangman stands at the top of the gallows, stringing the *
noose. Knee and Elbow help Claude up the ladder. *
HANGMAN
Absolutely cannot find competent
assistance on this entire bloody
continent!
CLAUDE *
I can't see a goddamn thing! *
ELBOW *
(To Knee) *
You think we shoulda got him up an' *
then put the blindfold on? *
HANGMAN *
Come on, come on, I'm not being paid *
by the hour, you know! *
Judge Duke hurries up, goes up the ladder after Claude. *
JUDGE DUKE *
What's-- hee hee hee-- what's going *
on here? *
KNEE *
What's it look like? *
JUDGE DUKE *
Looks like a hangin'. But the *
hangin's off! *
HANGMAN *
Are you planning to take all night? *
ELBOW *
Hold your horses, blackie. *
(To Judge Duke) *
News to us. We're supposed to hang *
'im at midnight, leave him up all *
day tomorrow. *
JUDGE DUKE *
But Judge Owens, he said-- he forgot! *
The idiot forgot! *
Judge Duke's slipped into his own voice. *
(CONTINUED)
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KNEE *
What'd you say? *
JUDGE DUKE *
I said-- hee hee hee-- Judge Judge *
Duke commuted the execution, but he *
must've plumb forgot to tell you! *
ELBOW *
Let's go ask 'im. Where is he? *
JUDGE DUKE *
Why, he's right in his own-- aw, *
crap! *
KNEE *
Orders is orders, old timer. *
JUDGE DUKE *
Wait! Wait here, don't do nothin'! *
He hurries off down the ladder and into the darkness. *
HANGMAN *
Come on, come on! I have to be in *
Tucson tomorrow. *
KNEE *
(Uncertain) *
The old man said we should wait. *
HANGMAN *
Oh, well, he's certainly the voice *
of authority. *
CLAUDE *
If I could say something-- *
HANGMAN *
You stay out of this. *
The platform railing shakes under his hand. *
HANGMAN (CONT'D) *
Who built this thing, anyway? *
ELBOW *
We done it. *
HANGMAN *
Well, you've made a right mess of *
it. *
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
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HANGMAN (CONT'D)
Look at this, shoddy construction,
no aesthetic values whatsoever--
KNEE *
(Getting annoyed) *
Listen up-- *
HANGMAN *
I don't know about you rustics, but *
I am not paid enough to risk my neck *
at the top of this-- *
CLAUDE *
Your neck! What about-- *
KNEE & ELBOW *
Shut up! *
HANGMAN *
Now, are we going to proceed or shall *
we-- *
JUDGE DUKE (O.S.) *
Hold it! Hold it! *
The Judge Duke clambers up the ladder. *
JUDGE DUKE (CONT'D) *
Hold yer horses! Lookee here! *
With a flourish, he presents Knee and Elbow with a document. *
JUDGE DUKE (CONT'D) *
Before Judge Judge Duke left, he *
done give me this note. *
Knee studies it intently. He turns to elbow. *
KNEE *
Kin you read. *
ELBOW *
Nope. Kin you? *
HANGMAN *
Oh, for God's sake. *
He grabs the document. *
(CONTINUED)
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HANGMAN (CONT'D) *
(Reading) *
"Do whatever this guy says." Signed, *
Judge Duke. Oh, very convincing, *
very authoritative. *
KNEE *
(Doubtful) *
That looks like Judge Duke's *
signature.
ELBOW *
(To Judge Duke) *
You want we should call off the *
execution? *
JUDGE DUKE *
(Thinking fast) *
No. Angel wants to see a body. *
Let's give him a body. *
CLAUDE *
Not mine! *
HANGMAN *
I have never seen such rank *
incompetence and inefficiency! *
KNEE *
Where're we gonna get a body? *
HANGMAN *
See here, my good man! *
ELBOW *
Must be somebody dead in town. *
He gestures, hitting the lever-- the trap springs open, and *
the Hangman plummets through, out of sight, landing with a *
sickening crunch. Long beat. *
KNEE *
(To Judge Duke) *
Okay, now what? *
CUT TO: *
66 EXT. COURTHOUSE / GALLOWS -- LATER *66
Knee and Elbow are on the platform, pulling on the rope now *
looped up over the crossbeam. *
(CONTINUED)
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JUDGE DUKE (O.S.) *
Almost there! *
Knee and Elbow groan with effort. *
JUDGE DUKE (CONT'D) *
Another few feet! *
The Hangman's body rises into view through the trap-- he's *
wearing Claude's clothes and blindfold. *
JUDGE DUKE (CONT'D) *
That's too high-- let him down... *
down... down... Perfect! *
Elbow and Knee tie off the rope. *
JUDGE DUKE (CONT'D) *
Great work. *
CUT TO: *
67 EXT. ANGEL'S HOUSE -- MORNING *67
Angel's door opens and he almost dances out. This is the *
happiest we've ever seen him. He's smiling, glad to be alive. *
He takes a deep breath, let's it out slowly. *
CUT TO: *
68 EXT. YUMA MAIN STREET -- MOMENTS LATER *68
Angel strides down the sidewalk-- he tips his hat to the *
ladies, nods in good fellowship at the men. *
He turns the corner to the courthouse and-- *
Stops dead. *
Horrified. *
HIS POV: *
The gallows. And dangling from it, a body. *
It hits him-- he realizes what he's done/forgotten to do. *
Angel slowly approaches the body, swaying and twisting slowly *
in the breeze. *
Standing by the dangling feet is-- *
Isabel. *
(CONTINUED)
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She looks up and sees Angel. Pure hate. *
ANGEL *
Isabel. I... I... *
She walks up to him. *
ANGEL (CONT'D) *
I didn't-- *
She spits in his face and turns away. Angel stands there *
for a long beat the body swaying behind him, broken. He *
turns and starts to walk away, out towards the desert. *