A PERFECT WORLD
Written by
JOHN LEE HANCOCK
December 1992 Draft
FOR EDUCATIONAL
PURPOSES ONLY
1 MUSIC UP. It's a tad eerie. If a Zydeco band died in a 1
bus crash this is the kind of music they'd play in heaven.
FADE IN ON:
WHITE SCREEN
which transforms to a milky white and eventually into a
bright high noon sun. A large black bird flies in circles
overhead. As it wipes the sun a bright flare causes...
CLOSEUP - PAIR OF EYES
to squint, then adjust to the light and finally open. They
look tired, but content, maybe even relaxed.
CLOSEUP - MAN
the owner of the eyes. Though we only see from his shoulders
to the top of his head, we can tell he's lying in a field.
His arm is propped behind his head as a pillow and he appears
to be resting comfortably. MUFFLED VOICES and WHISPERS fill
the air but they seem to come from another place. The man
doesn't notice them. His name is BUTCH.
A gust of wind blows Butch's hair a bit and a piece of straw
wipes across his forehead. Then, oddly enough, it is followed
by a dollar bill, which rests against his cheek, then skitters
across his face. It is followed by another and another, a
five, a ten, a single. Butch pays no attention. He's in
another world.
DISSOLVE TO:
2 EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - MADISONVILLE, TX. - DUSK 2
SUPERSCRIPT: OCTOBER, 1963.
A small country town. Normally quiet at this hour, the
street is tonight alive with trick or treaters dressed as
witches, goblins and superheroes making their annual door to
door rounds.
3 EXT. PERRY HOUSE - NIGHT 3
GLADYS PERRY, 30 going on 45 due to single motherhood and
having worked two fulltime minimum wage jobs the past ten
years, looks out the window with disgust and pulls the
curtains closed.
4 INT. PERRY HOUSE - NIGHT 4
Gladys retreats from the sparsly decorated living room to the
predictably drab linoleum kitchen. At the table, hands on
their laps, sit her children, NAOMI and RUTH, twin girls aged
10, and PHILLIP, a quiet boy of 8.
(CONTINUED)
2.
4 CONTINUED: 4
Gladys sets a casserole on the table and goes to the frig for
a container of milk. The children WHISPER to one another...
NAOMI
Judy Baumer is going as a twirler.
RUTH
But she's so fat. I'd go as Cinderella...
or Peter Pan.
NAOMI
Peter Pan's a boy. Tinker Bell's a girl.
Phillip could go as Peter Pan... 'cept
you gotta' fly.
Phillip smiles a bit at the notion.
RUTH
Phillip could go as a bump on a log.
The girls giggle and Phillip frowns.
PHILLIP
Why can't we go just once?
NAOMI
Caus' we jus' can't, ok?
Gladys sets milk and butter on the table and stares directly
at her son.
GLADYS
Our personal beliefs lift us to a higher
place. 'Sides, Halloween is nothing but
the Devil's work.
The DOORBELL RINGS. The kids gulp as Gladys turns and heads
for the door.
5 EXT. FRONT DOOR - NIGHT 5
MR. HUGHES, a 35-year-old family man is playing chaperone to
prepubescent versions of SUPERMAN, TINKERBELL, and a DANCING
SKELETON.
KIDS
(in unison)
Trick or treat!!!
Gladys simply stares at the children before looking to Mr.
Hughes.
GLADYS
I'm sorry but we don't take no part in
Halloween.
(CONTINUED)
3.
5 CONTINUED: 5
MR. HUGHES
Excuse me?
Phillip arrives at his mother's apron. He stares at the kids
with relish. In the near window, Ruth and Naomi steal a look
through the window.
GLADYS
We're Jehovah's Witness.
Superman locks eyes with Phillip.
SUPERMAN
Hey, Phillip Perry.
PHILLIP
Hey, Billy Reeves.
SUPERMAN
How'd ya' know it was me?
GLADYS
Go eat your supper, Phillip.
MR. HUGHES
Come on, kids. Let's go to the next
house. Sorry for the bother.
Gladys closes the door firmly and locks it.
6 EXT. HUNTSVILLE STATE PRISON - NIGHT 6
A green Impala pulls up to the main entrance and stops. A
GUARD steps from his office to greet the driver, LARRY, a
pudgy 55-year-old prison employee wearing a loud plaid jacket.
GUARD
Evenin', Larry. Forget somethin'?
LARRY
Goin' to Austin tomorrow. Gonna' take
some work with me.
GUARD
Work, work, work. When you and me gonna'
go out and grab a cold one?
LARRY
Sooner the better.
The gate opens and the Impala passes.
4.
7 INT. CELL - NIGHT 7
BUTCH HAYNES, a 38-year-old inmate who reeks with knowledge
procured from the wrong side of the tracks, but whose sad,
tired eyes bemoan a maximum of regret, stands on the top of a
cell bunk chipping at the ceiling.
JERRY PUGH, 29, rail thin, a punk who constantly licks his
lips, keeps watch at the door. An OLD TIMER sits on his bunk
and watches both with a cautious eye.
Butch chips through to something.
BUTCH
Damn if the old man ain't right.
Jerry smiles, turns and grabs the old man by the shirt.
JERRY
And this goes to the roof?
OLD TIMER
Used to... afore they walled it over.
JERRY
If it don't I'm gonna' rip your tongue out.
OLD TIMER
Get yer' damn hands off me!
Jerry laughs and joins Butch, who is already well on his way
to bending open a slot in a corrugated metal air shaft hidden
behind the wall.
8 EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT 8
Superman and Dancing Skeleton, no longer with adult super-
vision, fill water balloons at an outdoor water spigot.
SUPERMAN
Make 'em small so you can heave 'em.
9 INT. PERRY HOUSE - NIGHT 9
An assembly line at the kitchen sink as the twins wash and
Phillip dries the evening dishes. Gladys sits at the kitchen
table, reading religious pamphlets and keeping a watchful eye
over the process.
Several THUDS resound through the house.
PHYLLIS
What in the world?
Phillip jumps down off his stool and races into the living
room.
5.
10 EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT 10
Superman lofts a BALLOON and grabs another as the first hits
the door of the Perry house and SPLATTERS.
SUPERMAN
Bombs away!
Dancing Skeleton does his best Warren Spahn and tosses a wet
fastball at the door.
SKELETON
Here's your trick!
At the window, Phillip, his nose pressed to the pane, stares
expressionless at the onslaught. He barely flinches as a
BALLOON SPLATS only inches away. Gladys arrives and pulls
the curtains shut once more.
11A EXT. PRISON - NIGHT 11A
Butch kicks the top off a ventilator shaft and rolls onto the
roof. Jerry follows as Butch shimmies to the wall.
At the edge, Butch and Jerry survey the yard as a searchlight
routinely bathes the walls in a circle of light.
11B THEIR POV - GREEN IMPALA 11B
parked almost directly below them, next to the Administration
office of the prison.
JERRY
You'n'me must be livin' right, Butchie boy!
BUTCH
Let's get something straight. I don't
like you. As soon as we're on our way,
that's it.
JERRY
Who said I liked you?
Butch slides down and hangs from the ledge before dropping on
the roof of the building below.
12 INT. ADMIN OFFICE - NIGHT 12
A SOFT THUD causes a Guard to look up, but only momentarily as
he spots Larry departing, files in hand, waving goodbye.
GUARD
Have a safe trip now, Larry.
6.
13 EXT. YARD - NIGHT 13
Just as Larry reaches the Impala, Butch and Jerry leap down
and land on him. The spotlight showers them in a flash of
light as it passes by.
Butch cups his hand over Larry's mouth while Jerry reaches
into his jacket -- Bingo -- a shiny .38.
BUTCH
(to Larry)
Keep yer' mouth shut.
JERRY
(to Larry)
Gawd I'd love to blow yer' head off.
14 EXT. PRISON GATE - NIGHT 14
Larry, driving with his eyes straight ahead, stops at the gate
and waves a palm at the Guard, who opens without hesitation.
GUARD
'Night, Larry.
15 INT. CAR - FLOORBOARD - NIGHT 15
stuffed and hidden half on the floor and half under the mats
are Jerry and Butch.
JERRY
'Night, Larry.
16 OMITTED 16
16A INT. SMALL, WELL-LIT DINER - NIGHT 16A
A weathered finger drops a quarter in a jukebox.
MAN (O.S.)
B-5. Haven't heard that one in awhile.
The woman, MAE, 45, a dog-tired waitress, punches in the
numbers and returns to her post behind the counter. A
lonesome HANK WILLIAMS tune pours forth.
MAE
Not since last night. How's the pie?
RED GARNETT, 60, a grizzled but handsome Texas Ranger, sits
at the counter slowly chewing.
RED
Kinda rubbery. It was better yesterday.
(CONTINUED)
7.
16A CONTINUED: 16A
MAE
Same pie as yesterday. Not much call
for rhubarb. Sell one slice a day.
In the background we hear a SIREN. Red turns and watches a
police patrol car whiz past, lights on.
MAE
Yer off duty. Tell me, if I stopped bakin'
'em would you still come by every night?
Red, preoccupied, takes another rubbery bite.
RED
I don't know.
Mae smiles and turns her back to Red as she cleans the grill.
MAE
Naw, Red Garnett, you don't come in here
for the coffee and pie. You come in here
for the company. To see me.
Another patrol car races past. Red's eyes follow it.
16B ANGLE ON MAE 16B
MAE
Now that I've said that, I'll go one better.
What say I cook you dinner at my place
sometime? Steaks, baked taters, cold beer,
the works. Well?... I'm askin' you out.
She turns to face Red but he's gone. A coupla dollars lie
next to the half-eaten pie. All she can do is sigh.
16C INT./EXT. PATROL CAR - NIGHT 16C
Red pulls up in front of a small house in a residential
section of town. Police cars are everywhere and several
officers are behind their vehicles, guns pointed at the house.
Red steps out of the car and is greeted by a POLICE SERGEANT,
about the same age as Red.
SERGEANT
Long time, no see. What are you doin'
here, Chief?
RED
Couldn't sleep. Whattaya got?
(CONTINUED)
8.
16C CONTINUED: 16C
They walk. Red arrives at a truck with a 10 gallon coffee
urn roped to the tailgate. He grabs a paper cup and pours.
SERGEANT
Guy holdin' his family hostage. She kicked
him out, served him divorce papers, he came
back drunk and pulled a .38. Fired two shots
but we don't think anybody's hit. Actually
you might know the guy from your sheriff
days. Hayden Webb. Been on suspension for
awhile. Ring any bells?
RED
Yeah. Lemme talk to him.
SERGEANT
No can do. Police jurisdiction.
Red tastes the coffee -- cold. He spits it out, pours the
contents of the cup on the ground and walks toward the front
yard. Sergeant follows.
RED
And how are you guys doin'?
SERGEANT
We got specific rules to follow in these
kinda situations, Red.
(gives in)
He won't talk. Jus' keeps yellin', crying
and waving his gun around.
Red moves forward into the yard.
SERGEANT
At least use the megaphone, you stubborn
jackass!
But Red ignores and arrives at the front door. He knocks.
RED
Hayden, this is Red Garnett. We worked together
a few years back. Mind if I come in?
The YELLING inside STOPS and the door opens a crack. HAYDEN,
35, distraught, peers out.
HAYDEN
'Evenin', Chief.
RED
Leave it to the P.D. They got a three-
ring circus out there and not one cup
of hot coffee. You mind?
Hayden mulls it over, then opens the door.
9.
16D INT. WEBB HOUSE - NIGHT 16D
On the couch sits Hayden's wife, JULIE, cradling her two kids,
an infant and an 8-year-old boy. Julie sobs. Her eye and
temple are bruised purple.
Red slowly enters, nods to Julie, takes off his hat and sets
it on a lampstand. Hayden has moved away from Red against
the wall. He holds the gun out at no one in particular.
HAYDEN
Julie, put a pot of coffee on.
She slowly gets up and moves to the kitchen, still weeping.
RED
Appreciate it. Jus' what is it you want,
Hayden?
HAYDEN
I dunno... I want my job. I want my family.
RED
What'd they suspend you for?
HAYDEN
I answer a call in South Austin. Girl
gettin' raped, that's the word. I bust
in the door, this lowlife is beatin' the
shit outta her with a tire iron. 'Help me,
help me,' she says. I take the guy down.
He bites me. I break his arm. Case closed,
right? No. She was his wife and they both
sue me and the department. The guy's about
to kill her and she sues me 'cause now he
can't pump gas. They have chump change in
the bank but they got the best lawyer in
town. Three months I'm goin' crazy. No
pay. Then my wife leaves me and I get
served divorce papers by John Reese -- a
sheriff's man. You know how embarrassin'
that is? What's happenin', Chief? I
mean, everybody's got a fuckin' lawyer!
Julie emerges from the kitchen and retakes her seat.
RED
You love her? Love the kids?
HAYDEN
Yeah.
JULIE
Then why do you hit me!
Hayden grips the quivering revolver tight and points it
at her. Red calms the situation...
(CONTINUED)
10.
16D CONTINUED: 16D
RED
You don't wanna shoot her.
HAYDEN
I swear to God I think I do.
RED
Naw, Hayden, I don't think so. I think you
love her. You know what else I think? That
you'd like a way out of this whole mess...
That's where I come in.
16E EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT 16E
Sergeant and other cops stand around and watch the house.
SERGEANT
Well, I'll be damned.
NEW ANGLE
The front door opens and Julie emerges with her two kids.
She takes a few cautious steps, then runs to the police.
16F INT. HOUSE - NIGHT 16F
Red sits on the coffee table, unloading Hayden's gun. He
opens the cylinder and drops the shells to the floor.
A calmer Hayden exits the kitchen with Red's coffee. Red
accepts it, takes a sip.
RED
Hits the spot.
Hayden starts to sob a bit. Red hands over a handkerchief
which Hayden accepts.
HAYDEN
No cuffs, huh, Chief?
RED
Okay. You ready?
Hayden nods, they stand. Red picks up his hat, sticks it
on his head, opens the door and holds it for...
Hayden, transfixed by the multitude of lights outside. He
gulps.
RED
We'll walk out together, okay?
Hayden steps back, looks at Red, then reaches behind his
back, underneath his shirt and pulls out a .22 pistol.
(CONTINUED)
11.
16F CONTINUED: 16F
HAYDEN
Any good officer has a back-up.
Red holds his palms out and takes a step toward Hayden.
RED
Lemme have it, Hayden.
Hayden points the gun at Red, freezing him.
HAYDEN
Was I a good officer, Chief?
Red nods.
HAYDEN
Was I a good deputy? The kinda man you
could depend on to do what's right?
RED
Yeah.
Hayden smiles.
HAYDEN
Thank you.
Then he turns the GUN on himself, swallows the barrel and
BLOWS his brains out.
DISSOLVE TO:
16G EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT (LATER) 16G
Hayden's dead, covered body is carried out the door. Julie
screams and sobs, still holding her crying children.
Red, looking pretty shook up, slowly exits the house. He
stops and looks at Julie and the kids. His eyes lock with
the little boy's.
COP
Got a call, Chief Garnett. They're
lookin' for ya downtown.
Red slowly walks away. The little boy's eyes follow him.
17 INT. CONVENIENCE STORE - NIGHT 17
It's a small town version of a 7-11, kept open by an owner
anxious to cash in on the later night munchies of beer
drinkers. Good idea. Bad luck.
(CONTINUED)
12.
17 CONTINUED: 17
Jerry skims through a girly magazine, turning the pages with
the gun.
Butch, wearing Larry's plaid jacket, jimmies open the cash
register. He looks to the floor then to...
Jerry, who catches Butch's gaze, holds it, looks down at the
floor, then, smiling, looks back to Butch. He returns to
the skin mag.
Butch holds his stare at Jerry then, in one move, grabs a wad
of cash and hops over the counter and out of the store.
Jerry notices Butch leaving, grabs a handful of assorted
Brach's candies and hurries after.
JERRY
Hey, wait up!
Jerry's feet scurry through a pool of blood and past a
quivering hand.
18 INT. D.P.S. - TEXAS RANGERS HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT 18
It's very late, after midnight, and only a handful of people,
half of whom are cleanup crews, shuffle through the offices.
A light from an office at the end of the hall catches our
eye. A MUFFLED VOICE over the phone...
RED (V.O.)
I understan' your concern, Johnny.
19 INT. RED'S OFFICE - NIGHT 19
Red, behind a huge ranchstyle desk covered with files and
paper, sips coffee with one hand, works a buffalo nickel
through magician's paces with the other and balances the
phone receiver in the crook of his neck.
RED
(on phone)
Cons are creatures o' habit. Like old
coyotes, they'll crawl back into familiar
holes. Uh huh... Yeah... Sure yer' right.
Listen you go back to bed and I'll call you
in the A.M. with an update. I'll have the
files by then. Say hullo to the Mrs..
Red sighs, puts the PHONE back in the hook and stares at
it until it RINGS again.
20 INT. PERRY HOUSE - NIGHT (JUST BEFORE DAWN) 20
The CLANGING wind up alarm CLOCK reads 5:30 and Gladys opens
her eyes and gently quiets it with a touch. She groans and
rises, not happy but used to the daily ritual required of her.
13.
21 INT. PERRY LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 21
As the kitchen light comes on we see that the couch has been
opened up to a bed in which all three children sleep. The
twins sleep soundly but Phillip tosses and turns away from
the light.
22 EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT 22
The Impala creeps through the previously seen neighborhood
without its lights.
23 INT. IMPALA - NIGHT 23
Butch drives while Jerry scours the block.
JERRY
There's a Buick.
BUTCH
Don't want a Buick. Want a Ford.
JERRY
Ford's leak oil. A car's a car.
Butch puts on the brakes and brings the car to a stop.
BUTCH
Then take the Buick.
JERRY
Soon as we cross state line I'll do just
that.
(beat)
I'm tired of riding around. I'll check
down the block... for a Ford!
Jerry gets out, slams the door, lights a cigarette and walks
away.
Butch waits a few seconds, quietly turns the key one notch
and checks the gas ggauge. It reads almost empty. He taps
it with his finger but it doesn't budge. He sighs, looks up
and sees...
JERRY
as he checks one locked car, then feeling eyes on his back,
turns, looks at Butch, grins and disappears around a corner.
BUTCH discreetly exits the car himself, carefully closing the
door without a sound.
24 INT. PERRY KITCHEN - NIGHT 24
Gladys steps into a slip and snaps her bra while cracking eggs
into a skillet. By rote she salts, stirs, and pops bread into
the toaster.
14.
25 EXT. PERRY BACKYARD - SOMEONE'S POV - NIGHT 25
FROM BEHIND a fence, THROUGH the opened, screened windows we
see Gladys at work.
Phillip enters, dressed in cotton briefs and a T-shirt, drags
a chair from the kitchen table by the window and assists his
mother by buttering the toast.
POV MOVES CLOSER.
GLADYS
Thank you, Phillip. Go wake up your
sisters.
Phillip dutifully steps down and returns to the living room.
Gladys works to adjust her slip, then grabs plates and
silverware and takes them to the table.
JERRY
I take mine fried.
26 INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT 26
Gladys gasps at Jerry's face pressed against the screen, but
controls herself when he brandishes the pistol. He motions
for her to open the back door. She does. He slides into the
room and sits down at the table.
27 EXT. ON STREET - NIGHT 27
A Ford sits in a driveway. In the far b.g. a back porch light
glares. Butch ENTERS FRAME, looks at the light, turns to the
Ford and starts to jimmie the lock. No luck. He rises and
looks to the light.
28 INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT 28
Jerry stuffs a piece of toast in his mouth, grins at Gladys
and makes a motion to the counter.
JERRY
A lil' on the bland side. Gimme' that
ketchup.
She picks up a bottle of Heinz and inches toward him. When
she gets close, he grabs her and forces her onto his lap. He
holds the gun to her throat and whispers in her ear.
JERRY
Don't got a man around here, do ya'?
29A INT. NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE - NIGHT 29A
MR. CUMMINGS, 70, puts on his glasses and peers through the
window.
15.
29B HIS POV - PERRY KITCHEN 29B
Gladys sits on Jerry's lap, thanks to .38 caliber coercion.
The convict's hands move freely over the frightened woman's
body.
30 INT. PERRY KITCHEN - NIGHT 30
JERRY
Feed me, sweet thing.
Her shaking hands raise a forkful of eggs to his lips. He
licks them once then gobbles with gusto.
Phillip enters the room and stops dead in his tracks.
JERRY
Well lookie here, you do got a man!
Jerry smiles at Phillip while he kisses and licks Glady's neck.
At once, Phillip darts across the room at Jerry, who backhands
the boy with his gunhand, sending Phillip sprawling.
Butch blasts through the door in an instant. With a swift
kick to the head, Jerry is knocked senseless onto the floor
against the cabinets.
The gun slides across the floor and lands at Phillip's feet.
JERRY
(holding his ear)
I'm bleedin'! You happy?
Butch gives Jerry an icy stare and kneels down to eye level
with Phillip. Butch looks at the gun and then at Phillip.
BUTCH
What's your name, boy?
PHILLIP
(scared shitless)
Ph... Phillip...
BUTCH
Well, okay Phillip. Reach down and pick
up that pistola.
JERRY
Give it to me.
BUTCH
(to Jerry)
Shut yer' mouth.
(to Phillip)
Pick it up and bring it over here.
(CONTINUED)
16.
30 CONTINUED: 30
Phillip reaches down and slowly picks up the gun by the handle.
He takes one step toward Butch, then another. Gladys,
petrified, sobs.
Phillip arrives armslength from Butch.
CLOSEUPS - PHILLIP AND BUTCH
BUTCH
Now say 'stick 'em up.'
PHILLIP
(hesitant)
Stick 'em up...
Butch laughs and then a NOISE from outside brings him back
to reality. He grabs the gun and spins to see...
MR. CUMMINGS
Standing outside the screen door, gun leveled. Before the old
man can utter a syllable, Butch grabs Phillip and points the
gun straight at Cummings. Jerry jumps up and grabs Gladys.
BUTCH
Put the gun down, old timer. You couldn't
hit me anyway. Probably shoot the boy.
The PHONE RINGS.
BUTCH
Leave it be.
The twins wiping sleep from their eyes, wander into the room.
NAOMI
Mama?...
GLADYS
It's all right, honey.
PHONE continues to RING. Cummings can't decide what to do
with the gun he's pointing at Butch.
JERRY
You deaf?!!!
BUTCH
Set it on the ground.
Cummings reluctantly obeys.
JERRY
We gotta' get the hell outta'here!
(CONTINUED)
17.
30 CONTINUED: (2) 30
PHONE still RINGS...
JERRY
Shut up!
In one fluid move he rips the phone from the wall. The
silence is deafening.
JERRY
(re: Gladys)
I vote we bring her with us.
BUTCH
No.
JERRY
How we gonna' get outta' here without a
hostage, tell me that? The whole goddam
neighborhood's awake.
BUTCH
We'll take the boy.
Silence. Gladys can't believe her ears. Then...
GLADYS
Nooooo!!!
Jerry tosses Gladys aside. She collapses onto the floor.
The TWINS instantly start to CRY.
Phillip winds up and hits Butch as hard as he can. Butch picks
him up, directs Cummings into the kitchen with the gun and nods
for Jerry to lead.
BUTCH
You'll get him back. I swear it.
31 EXT. FRONT YARD - DAWN 31
Butch, carrying Phillip, and Jerry emerge from the back of
the house and race back to the Impala.
GLADYS (O.S.)
Phillip!!!!...
Butch flips Jerry the gun, tosses Phillip into the passenger
seat, leaps over the hood and into the driver's seat. The
CAR STARTS and SQUEALS away.
Neighbors, aroused by the noise, exit their homes clad in
robes, nighties and curlers.
18.
32 INT. CAR - DAWN 32
Jerry FIRES a SHOT over their heads, sending them to the deck
or scurrying for safety.
JERRY
Ain't you folks ever heard of sleepin'
in?!!
33 EXT. PERRY YARD - DAWN 33
Cummings races from behind the house with the SHOTGUN,
levels it and FIRES a BLAST...
A nearby station wagon WINDOW SHATTERS. Rising from their
cover position, its owners look at Cummings with disgust.
OWNER
Nice shootin', Fred.
34 INT. RED'S OFFICE - DAY 34
Garnett, still in the same clothes, rests the phone receiver
in his ear while he shuffles through the files before him.
Red's deputy and boy friday, TOM ADLER, 40, lank, thinning
hair, with a face as soft as Red's is hard, warms up Red's
coffee with a jolt from the Chief's favorite plaid Thermos.
RED
(into phone)
Yes, Johnny, I do understand that...
The jabbering on the other end of the phone line continues
as Red's eyes squint to read the files.
INSERT - FILES
The first is Jerry's, complete with a grinning mug shot in the
upper right hand corner. There are several pages in the file,
but Red's fingers quickly peruse the top rap sheet before
turning to...
INSERT - SECOND FILE
It's Butch's and again Red's fingers start to move down the
page then they stop and move to the photo of Butch at the top
of the page.
RED'S FACE
A hint of recognition. The jabbering continues...
CLOSEUP - PHOTO OF BUTCH
A little younger than now. A younger con with the grim facade
of a man facing hard time.
(CONTINUED)
19.
34 CONTINUED: 34
RED
keeps staring at the photo, oblivious to the phone conversa-
tion he's "not having".
PHONE VOICE (V.O.)
Red? Red, you there?
ADLER
(a whisper)
Red?....
RED
(to Adler)
Huh?
ADLER
(a whisper)
He's talkin' to ya'.
PHONE VOICE (V.O.)
Have you heard a word I've said?!
Red comes to...
RED
(into phone)
Yeah, Johnny. Jus' thinkin' is all....
ADLER
(another whisper)
Press has been waiting almost an hour, Red.
Red nods then notices someone at the door and motions her
in... SALLY GERBER, 28, cute in a plain, no nonsense way,
with giant curls accenting her round face in step with the
latest hair fashions, enters the room, closes the door behind
her. She's nervous as hell but trying to hide it.
Red motions her to have a seat while he finishes his call.
RED
(into phone)
Yeah.... Clear as a bell... Mi' sabe.
Red hangs up the phone, takes a draw on the coffee mug and
looks again at the file. He seems lost in time.
ADLER
What'd he say?
RED
(distracted)
Who?
(CONTINUED)
20.
34 CONTINUED: (2) 34
ADLER
The Guvner', Red.
Red closes the file.
RED
Reminded me it's an election year.
Red turns his attention to Sally.
RED
You drink before noon?
SALLY
(confused)
Uh... no.
RED
Good. Last one I had was on a liquid diet.
SALLY
Last what?
RED
Secretary.
ADLER
(remembering)
Penny Munroe.
SALLY
I believe you have me confused. I'm here
from Huntsville. Assigned by Governor
Connally.
Red is confused. He turns a blank expression to Adler.
RED
Adler... what is this?
Adler searches the messy desk for something.
ADLER
Rings a bell, Red. Believ' they sent us
something about her this mornin'...
RED
Who sent?...
ADLER
... Guvner', Red.
Adler finds the telex message sheet he's looking for and hands
it to Red.
(CONTINUED)
21.
34 CONTINUED: (3) 34
ADLER
... Here it is.
SALLY
(introducing)
Uh, I'm Sally Gerber. Criminologist
with the State Prison System.
Sally offers her hand. Red, perusing the telex, ignores but
Adler shakes somewhat reluctantly, not sure if he's supposed
to like her or not.
ADLER
Tom Adler. Deputy. State Police...
System.
SALLY
It's a relatively new procedure but I
was assigned by Governor Connally...
RED
(reading from telex)
... 'to work with State law enforcement
officials in all affairs where penal
matters coincide with those of the State
Police.' It don't say nuthin' about...
SALLY
... It includes parole and work release
programs as well as penal escape situations.
The office PHONE BUZZES. Adler picks it up.
ADLER
(into phone)
On our way, Marge.
Adler hangs up the phone.
ADLER
Gettin' antsy, Red. You scheduled it.
Adler hangs up, grabs Red's tie and coat from a brass rung on
the wall and hands them over. Red puts down the telex, stares
at Sally and reluctantly attempts to make himself presentable.
SALLY
The idea is that an understanding of the
particular behavioral case histories
should, in parole situations, help the
subject to avoid habitual traps and, in
penal escape situations could, conversely,
identify those self-same traps as an aide
to apprehension.
(CONTINUED)
22.
34 CONTINUED: (4) 34
Adler stares at Sally then turns to Red with a "never heard
the like" look of amazement on his face.
Red, roguishly handsome in his tan, western cut blazer, clip
on tie and ten gallon hat, makes his way to the door. But,
before he exits...
RED
In the first place, Miss Gerber.
SALLY
Sally, please.
RED
In the first place, Sally, it ain't a
'penal escape situation.' It's a manhunt.
Fancy words in a circle don't help much.
SALLY
And what does?
RED
A nose like a Blue Tick, a medulla with an
antenna and one helluva lot of coffee.
And with that he's out the door.
35 INT. PRESS ROOM - DAY 35
A throng of photogs and news writers stuff the undersized
room. The clamor settles when Red enters and steps behind
the lectern.
RED
Listen up, I'll only say it once. At
approximately ten o'clock last night two
inmates over to Huntsville, Robert 'Butch'
Haynes and Jerry David Pugh, escaped through
an air shaft, grabbed a prison employee's
car and got out through the main gate. At
approximately 1 A.M. we believe they robbed
a market outside of Cut-n-Shoot and killed
the store's owner.
REPORTER #1
Is the prison employee with them?
RED
Was when they left the prison.
Sally and Adler enter the room and stand beside the lectern
observing. Red notices them.
(CONTINUED)
23.
35 CONTINUED: 35
REPORTER #2
What's the rap sheet on these guys like?
RED
Long as Christmas eve to a kid. Haynes was
doin' 40 for armed robbery and Pugh was
ridin' 20 hisself for manslaughter and
assorted parole vios.
REPORTER #3
Is there any indication of...
RED
... Lemme' finish, Billy. This mornin'
another hostage was taken... from a private
home in Madisonville. A boy, age 8.
Grabbed him out of bed.
REPORTER #1
Any sex offenses on Haynes or Pugh?
RED
Yer' askin' if they're preverts. Well,
one is.
REPORTER #4
You got inter-agency cooperation on this?
RED
Texas Rangers as the criminal investigation
arm of the D.P.S. share responsibility with
the F.B.I. due to the kid being taken. But
I doubt they're out of bed yet.
A few chuckles.
REPORTER #3
Red, how do you plan to apprehend the
escapees?
RED
Officially I can only say we have a full
manhunt team on their trail and we'll
proceed with due haste.
REPORTER #3
And unofficially?
Red hesitates a moment, something's bothering him, then blurts
out...
RED
Unoffically? I'm gonna' hunt 'em like
the rabid dogs they are.
(CONTINUED)
24.
35 CONTINUED: (2) 35
Every hand in the place shoots up and Ad Lib questions fly
like bullets.
RED
That's all I've got but I'd like to
introduce ya' to Miss Sally Gerber.
She's straight from the Governor's
office. Knows all about psychological
profiles and the like. You probably
have some questions for her.
Red steps back and to one side. Sally is taken aback but then
warms to the idea and steps to the podium for her first press
conference, ready to take on the tough questions, to show off
a bit, but....
There are no questions. In fact there is utter silence as
every raised hand drops. Eyes stare.
Red sighs and starts to walk away.
RED
Look, fellas, I got work to do.
And he heads out the door, followed by Sally's eyes and every
reporter's in the room, who commence once again to yell out
questions and mob after the Chief. Every reporter, that is,
except one.
He's near the back of the room and he smiles and raises his
hand.
Sally, unsure what to do, looks to him...
SALLY
You have a question?
REPORTER
Yes I do.
Sally smiles a bit then puts on her serious face awaiting...
REPORTER
You doin' anything tonight?
Sally, steamed, glares at the guy and stomps out of the
room.
REPORTER
I'm serious!
36 INT. IMPALA - DAY 36
Butch is driving with Phillip in the front seat beside him,
still in his underwear. Jerry, in the backseat, leers at
Butch, aims out the window and FIRES ONCE.
25.
37 EXT. FIELD NEAR ROAD - DAY 37
An aluminum water tank spews a violent leak.
38 INT./EXT. CAR - DAY 38
BUTCH
We got a handful of caps and yer'
shootin' water tanks. He's a smart
guy, huh, Phillip?
Phillip doesn't move or change expression. Jerry smiles,
almost to himself, and FIRES TWICE more for the hell of it.
The ROOF of the Impala EXPLODES with two holes as the car
speeds off down the highway.
39 EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY 39
Red is finishing up with several reporters near the door to
the parking lot. Adler jumps in, holds up his hands.
ADLER
All right, that's it, boys. Chief's got
work to do.
Red and Adler move through the parking lot to SAUNDERS, 50, an
aide to the Governor. Saunder's seconds are a PHOTOGRAPHER,
young and energetic, and SUTTLE, 35, dark-haired, with a
cowlick.
Saunders shakes Red's hand and they turn to gaze upon...
'60-STYLE AIRSTREAM MOBILE HOME
parked in the middle of the lot hitched to the back of a new
Chevy truck. The Airstream is painted in state colors and
sports banners, decals and logos.
40 EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY 40
Saunders follows Red as he walks around the showpiece,
occasionally kicking a tire or two.
SAUNDERS
So whattaya' think?
Saunders motions for the Photographer to come closer and take
pictures. He moves in next to Red and poses as the camera
clicks.
SAUNDERS
We are very proud of this baby. Governor
Connally special ordered it so state
officials and dignitaries can ride in the
parade in Dallas. You know President
Kennedy's comin'?
(CONTINUED)
26.
40 CONTINUED: 40
RED
So I hear.
SAUNDERS
Latest technology, oversized engine,
complete kitchen and sleeping quarters,
gun racks, frig, stove, the works. Even
got a hot line phone straight to the
Governor's office.
Red stops circling and nods to Adler, who scurries away.
RED
Fine piece of machinery.
SAUNDERS
What's more, as soon as it gets back from
Dallas it will be at your requisitioned
disposal. Perfect for lots of situations
-- a headquarters on wheels.
Red smiles, walks up to one of the Lone Star decals and rips
it off.
RED
We'll take it.
SAUNDERS
Uh, Chief?....
Red rips off another decal. Adler and a few others start to
load equipment, guns and files into the motor home. In
addition they cart out unecessary items: mattresses, etc.
and stack them in a pile outside the motor home.
The Photographer continues to snap photos.
SAUNDERS
(to Red)
Whattaya' doin', Red?!
(to Photographer)
Stop takin' pictures!
Red does away with the parade banner. Saunders follows behind
and tries to reinstate the decal.
SAUNDERS
It's jus' not possible, Red. The Governor's
gonna' ride it in a campaign parade tomorrow.
RED
Guvner' hisself told me this manhunt was
top priority.
(CONTINUED)
27.
40 CONTINUED: (2) 40
Adler moves through the door to the RV carrying Red's favorite
desk chair. He's followed by BOBBY LEE, 20's, cocksure,
wearing a plain khaki uniform and boots.
ADLER
(to Saunders)
S'cuse me.
(to Red)
This here's Bobby Lee. He's a specialist
with the Feds. They want him to tag along.
Red stares hard at Bobby Lee, then nods. Bobby Lee steps
into the Airstream.
SAUNDERS
Please, Red, ya' gotta' believe me...
Red spots Suttle, 35, bright-eyed, with a cowlick, sitting at
the wheel of the Chevy truck.
RED
Who are you?
SUTTLE
Dick Suttle, the driver.
RED
Not anymore. Bradley.
BRADLEY, 35, glasses, moves to the truck and gets in.
Suttle shrugs and steps out.
Saunders stops Suttle and turns to Red.
SAUNDERS
This man stays with the vehicle wherever
it goes, Red!
RED
(to Suttle)
You know how to operate the gadgets?
SUTTLE
Yessir.
RED
(to Suttle)
Grab a seat.
Suttle sets himself in the passenger seat of the truck.
Sally emerges from the building, ticked off, carrying an
armload of file boxes, and makes a beeline for Red.
Saunders gently touches Red's shoulders; a final plea.
(CONTINUED)
28.
40 CONTINUED: (3) 40
SAUNDERS
Please Red, I'm beggin'. I mean, what am
I suppose to tell the Governor?
Sally arrives but before she can spit out a word...
RED
Tell John that Miss Gerber here checked
me out on it.
Red whistles and the ENGINE REVS. Red closes the door as the
motor home pulls away. Saunders runs beside the passenger
side window and yells in to Suttle, who stares out the window.
SAUNDERS
Not a scratch, you hear me, Suttle?
Not a scratch!
Saunders stops, breathing hard, next to Sally. She's
pissed and overloaded with files.
AIRSTREAM
about 20 yards down the way, comes to a stop. A second later
the door opens and the steps pop out.
Sally walks toward the bus but when she arrives at the door...
... LAUGHTER filters out of the Airstream. The Airstream
moves another 20 feet then stops.
Sally waits a full five seconds, then she blows the hair out
of her eyes and, against her better judgment, moves cautiously
forward, the file boxes getting heavier by the minute. Again,
when she gets close...
...the Airstream moves. Sally, boiling mad as her coiffure
wilts in the Texas sun, stops, and tosses down the file box
in anger.
The Airstream stops. LAUGHTER from inside and a few AD LIBS,
i.e. -- "Okay, Okay." More LAUGHTER. Red steps out the door,
turns his gaze back inside and the laughter and comments stop
on a dime. Smiling slightly he turns to Sally, moves straight
for the file box, picks it up and walks back to the Airstream.
When he arrives at the steps he turns, looks to Sally, who
stews and holds her ground.
RED
You comin' or not?
She hesitates only a moment before walking straight to Red,
grabbing back her file box and entering in front of him.
29.
41 OMITTED 41
42 INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 42
Sally enters, balancing the boxes, and glares at the faces
surrounding her. A smiling Red, a grinning Adler messily
gorging on a cinnamon roll, a nervous KAISER, the radio man,
and, in the corner, a nasty smirk from Bobby Lee.
When the Airstream takes off again, she loses her balance and
drops one of the boxes. Adler and Suttle jump forward to help
but she gives them the evil eye.
SALLY
I've got it.
She kneels down to pick it up and feels eyes on her. She
looks up to the men staring at...
Her skirt, raised a bit, exposing a thigh.
She calmly stands and looks to Adler, a piece of cinnamon roll
dangling on his chin.
SALLY
You've got shit on your face.
Red can't help but smile as Adler wipes at his face.
43 EXT. RURAL ROAD - DAY 43
The IMPALA BLASTS along, kicking up dust and dispersing crows
as it heads into a one light township. It slows, however,
before the main part of town and slides to a stop near a pay
phone booth.
44 INT./EXT. IMPALA - DAY 44
JERRY
Why the hell we stoppin'?
BUTCH
You said you had a cousin near here.
JERRY
So?
BUTCH
So give him a call. See if we can shack
there til' things cool down.
Jerry thinks it over, leans forward and, in one quick swipe,
grabs the keys from the ignition. Then he laughs and crawls
out on his way to the phone booth.
(CONTINUED)
30.
44 CONTINUED: 44
In the b.g. we see Jerry strut to the phone booth and pore
through a thin directory. Phillip steals a glance at Butch,
who watches his rear view mirror and grits his teeth.
PHILLIP
Why'd he take the keys?
BUTCH
So I won't leave him.
PHILLIP
(a tad hopeful)
Would you leave him?
BUTCH
Oh yeah.
In the b.g. Jerry rips the 20 page phone book in half and
returns to the car, half pleased with himself. He tosses
the keys to Butch, who starts the car and drives off.
JERRY
Musta' moved. Prolly' couldn't have heard
'em anyway. Goddam ear's still bleedin'.
You ever try that shit again...
BUTCH
What?
JERRY
What?
BUTCH
You were in the middle of threatenin' me.
JERRY
(from the movies)
Ain't a threat. It's a fact.
Butch reaches over, takes Phillip's hand and places it on the
steering wheel.
BUTCH
Here kid, take the wheel.
Phillip, scared at the prospect, nevertheless does his best
to see over the dash and keep the wheel straight. Butch
turns back over the seat to confront Jerry.
BUTCH
In two seconds I'm gonna' break your nose.
That's a threat...
(CONTINUED)
31.
44 CONTINUED: (2) 44
Before Jerry has time to snicker Butch hits him full in the
face and grabs the gun. Blood spurts from Jerry's nose and
the injured man cups his hands over the wound.
Butch spins and retakes the wheel from a frightened Phillip.
BUTCH
... And that's a fact.
Instead of expressing outrage, Jerry slinks back down in the
seat wearing a look of pure hatred.
JERRY
I'm gonna' kill you for that.
BUTCH
And that's a threat. Beginnin' to
understand the difference?
Somethin' catches Butch's eye and he turns and slows down and
turns into...
45 EXT. RURAL STORE - DAY 45
The Impala brakes to a dusty stop near the front of the store,
which is bordered by a giant hay field.
46 INT. IMPALA - DAY 46
BUTCH
Okay, Phillip, listen up. I'm gonna'
run in here and get some smokes.
JERRY
Get beer.
Butch hands Phillip the revolver.
BUTCH
Here, hold it like this.... And point it
right between his eyes.
JERRY
What the hell?...
BUTCH
(to Phillip)
If he so much as moves you pull the trigger
... right here... Put your finger on it.
Jerry snickers and then laughs maniacally. Butch reaches
over and cocks the pistol. Jerry's guffaws stop on a dime.
JERRY
Yer' a fuckin' crazy man.
(CONTINUED)
32.
46 CONTINUED: 46
BUTCH
And that's a fact. I believe yer
gettin' the hang of this.
Butch steps out of the car and heads for the market.
47 INT. STORE - DAY 47
Butch enters. A short fat man with a fishing cap is sweeping
up.
BUTCH
How-do. Where's yer' sodees?
MAN
Hot in the first aisle. Cold in the
back, in the cooler.
48 INT. IMPALA - DAY 48
Phillip's slightly shaking hands hold the pistol pointed
directly at Jerry's head.
JERRY
You ever shot a gun before, boy?
No answer. Phillip steals a glance at the store, anxious for
Butch to return.
JERRY
Powww!!!... It'll knock you on your ass.
PHILLIP
Be quiet, mister.
JERRY
Naw. You ain't never shot no gun before.
Livin' in a house with three split tails...
no Daddy around. You'll prolly' grow up
queer, you know that?
A bead of sweat rolls down Phillip's cheek.
JERRY
Now I'm gonna' lean up here real slow,
okay? So we can talk.
Jerry raises his hands, palms up and slowly leans forward in
the back seat. Phillip's hand quivers but he doesn't pull
the trigger.
JERRY
There we go. Now we can have a 'man to
man.' You are a man, ain't ya'?
33.
49 INT. STORE - DAY 49
Butch dumps a six pack of RC Colas, a handful of Moon Pies,
a handful of beef jerky and some gum on the counter.
50 INT. IMPALA - DAY 50
Jerry's chin is on the front seat now and his arms are draped
over it.
JERRY
Those are cute little underwears you got
there, boy. Say does your mama sew yer'
name in 'em, initials or anything?
Jerry's hand slowly reaches down to the white briefs. He
places one finger in the front elastic waistband and slowly
pulls it open.
JERRY
Whatcha' got in there?
Jerry sneaks a peek.
JERRY
Kinda' puny, ain't it?
Phillip, diverted, looks down. In a flash Jerry grabs the
gun.
JERRY
The hand is quicker than the eye.
Jerry flicks open the revolver, spins it -- empty slots.
JERRY
(re: Butch)
That sonofabitch. Hell's bells, no
shells.
51 INT. STORE - DAY 51
The Old Man puts down his broom and ambles to the register.
OLD MAN
This be all for ya'?
BUTCH
This and a carton of Chesterfields.
(beat)
Are those .38 shells? Gimme a box.
The Old Man puts the cigs and shells on the counter and starts
to tally the bill on a notepad.
(CONTINUED)
34.
51 CONTINUED: 51
OLD MAN
With deposit comes to four dollars eighty.
Butch reaches in his pocket and extracts the wad stolen from
the convenience store. The Old Man takes note. Butch
selects a five and places it on the counter.
OLD MAN
Land's sake. What line of work you in?
The Old Man bags the goods, but Butch takes the shells and
puts them in his coat pocket.
BUTCH
Used cars. Buy 'em, fix 'em up. Sold a
Cadillac down in Madisonville this mornin'.
OLD MAN
Don't say.
52 INT. IMPALA - DAY 52
Jerry puts his gun hand around Phillip's neck and pulls the
sobbing boy closer. Jerry rests his face on Phillip's neck.
JERRY
Come over a little closer.
As Jerry groans, Phillip seizes the moment and bites Jerry
hard on the ear. Jerry screams and drops the gun, which
Phillip picks up and carries with him as he scurries out of
the car and into the hay field.
Jerry, in pain, now with both ears bleeding, crawls out of
the back seat and gives chase.
53 EXT. FIELD - DAY 53
Phillip, still sobbing, runs for his life in the hay, which
is a full foot taller than he.
JERRY
no longer stumbling, now grinning maniacally, gives chase,
whistling as if calling for a lost puppy.
JERRY
I'm gonna' find you boy. You best come here.
PHILLIP
gun in hand, stumbles, falls, gets up, keeps running. He falls
again and crawls to a stop. He wipes his tears and balls up
on the ground trying to make himself invisible.
35.
54 EXT. STORE - DAY 54
Butch exits with a grocery sack. When he sees the car doors
open he dumps the groceries in the front seat and looks to
the field.
HIS POV
The hay rustles as Jerry moves through the field.
55 EXT. FIELD - DAY 55
Jerry, crouching, moves through the field -- eyes peeled for
any sign of Phillip.
Phillip lies still. He hears the hay rustling near him and
he looks up, squares his body and points the revolver at...
Butch, who spots him, motions for him to stay put and holds
out his hand for the gun. Phillip hands it over and watches
while Butch reaches into the plaid jacket pocket, extracts a
few shells and loads the .38.
JERRY
a little frustrated now, but still moving forward.
JERRY
(a whisper)
Hey boy. Hey boy. You better hope I
don't find ya'.
He spots something -- a dash of color -- and begins to crawl
faster. He parts a thick batch of hay and looks up into the
gun barrel and eyes of ...
BUTCH
squatted down, who levels the revolver and closes one eye.
Jerry laughs.
JERRY
Whatcha' gonna' do? Hit me with it?
Butch reaches into the coat pocket with his free hand and
shows a shell or two. Jerry's grin drops.
JERRY
(pleading)
Me'n you are friends!!!!
BUTCH
Thick as theives.
PHILLIP
hears a GUNSHOT and runs for his life back toward the store.
36.
56 EXT. PARKED IMPALA - DAY 56
Phillip runs to the car and hides behind the tire opposite the
store and field. In the b.g. we see Butch emerge from the
field and walk toward the car.
The Old Man, who also heard the shot, emerges from the store
with a baseball bat. Butch arrives at the car, spots the Old
Man and levels the revolver at him. Phillip is relieved when
he hears Butch's voice instead of Jerry's.
BUTCH
(to Old Man)
You got a phone?
OLD MAN
Naw.
BUTCH
Then go inside and lie down til' we're gone.
The Old Man meekly does so. Butch goes to the car door, opens
it and motions to a frozen stiff Phillip.
BUTCH
Well... Get in.
57 EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY 57
The truck and Airstream barrel down the highway.
58 INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 58
The place is a functioning mobile headquarters now. Adler on
the short wave and tacking up a map, Bobby Lee still in his
corner, Red and Sally sitting across from one another at the
"kitchen table".
In the rear section of the Airstream Red's chair and a mini
office for the Chief have been put together.
ADLER
Got a spot on 'em. A store right outside
of Benhur. About 20 miles from here.
Adler sets down the mike, sticks a tack on the map and stands
back.
RED
All right. Push the roadblock on 288
north by 50 miles.
Kaiser calls in the instructions. (NOTE: Kaiser's radio
transmissions are not scripted but go on a lot of the time
we're in the Airstream. In addition, his and Adler's direc-
tions and missives to Bradley in the truck are not all
scripted.)
(CONTINUED)
37.
58 CONTINUED: 58
ADLER
Ya' figger' they're that far along?
RED
Hell, I dunno'and neither do they. They're
jus' happy to be out. It's a high speed
Sunday drive to them.
ADLER
Sunday drive. I like that. Never heard
you use that one before, Red.
Sally is watching Red and listening to all of this with a
troubled look on her face. Red notices...
RED
Somethin' eatin' at you?
SALLY
It's... perhaps premature, but do you have
an auxiliary roadblock plan for when they
split up?
Everyone stares. No one ever questions Red.
ADLER
What makes you so sure they won't stay
together?
Sally hesitates. Red notices...
RED
You got somethin' to say, spit it out.
SALLY
Their situation is one of accommodation.
They won't be together long.
Silence. Sally continues.
SALLY
Haynes and Pugh are opposites. Haynes is
a criminal's criminal -- armed robbery,
mano y mano confrontation. Pugh, on the
other hand, has a rap sheet littered with
molestation and petty crime. They'll
split sheets soon.
ADLER
(still on attack)
What about the hostages? They gonna' flip
a coin to see who gets to keep who?
Red rises and walks to the sink. He rinses a spoon.
(CONTINUED)
38.
58 CONTINUED: (2) 58
SALLY
It's happened before. Either way it's a
dilemma they'll address soon.
(beat)
That's why we should address it now.
She looks to Red. He refuses to return her gaze.
RED
We don't have a dilemma. And neither do
they. They'll keep one hostage... and get
rid of one, if they haven't already.
SALLY
Okay... which one?
RED
If there's a SNAFU, who's John Q. Public
more likely to give a rat's ass about --
an innocent boy or a goddam bureaucrat.
Red wipes the water off the spoon on his shirt and walks to
his office in the back. Adler, Bobby Lee and Kaiser chuckle
lightly at their boss's snubbing of the female upstart in
their midst. Sally's face glows a bright red.
59 INT. MOTOR HOME - BACK OFFICE 59
Red sits in his office chair, pulls out the spoon and pours
Geritol from a bottle into his coffee. He doesn't even look
up when Sally enters, a stern look on her face.
SALLY
We need to talk, Chief Garnett.
RED
Call me Red.
SALLY
Red.
(beat)
Why are you so hell-bent on embarassing me?
RED
I'm hell-bent on one thing. You hang
around long enough you'll find that out.
Til' then a tough backside and a sense of
humor will get you through a lot.
SALLY
I have a fine sense of humor, but the one
thing I won't do is be your straight man
so you can play hero to a bunch of morons
who think you're some kind of hillbilly
Sherlock Holmes.
(CONTINUED)
39.
59 CONTINUED: 59
Red sips from the mug calmly then groans, his face contorted.
RED
Awful. Arthur Godfrey says it keeps ya'
young, but I'm not sure it's worth it.
SALLY
I'd like an answer.
RED
This yer' first time out of an office?
She refuses to answer.
RED
Thought so. What'd ya' expect ya' signed
on for?
Adler, Bobby Lee and Kaiser all watch the discussion, smiles
on their faces. Sally abruptly closes the door.
SALLY
You think I'm what? Some dumb schoolgirl
who wandered into the boy's locker room?
Well you're wrong. I don't mean to boast,
but I happen to be one of the two most
intelligent people involved in this fiasco.
RED
Didn't ask that. Asked what you expected.
SALLY
I expected to be allowed to do the job
assigned to me by the Governor.
RED
I happen to like the Governor, hunt quail
together every year. But deep down he and
I know that win, lose or draw this is my
ship, not his.
SALLY
The Governor as chief executive officer
of this state bears ultimate responsibility
for...
RED
... Bullshit. Responsibility lies with the
one that loses sleep; the one with the most
ulcers. This mess turns bloody -- and it
might -- all it's gonna cost the Governor
is a few votes! Me, I'm the one that's...
(CONTINUED)
40.
59 CONTINUED: (2) 59
Red catches himself about to get too personal. He takes
another swig of his coffee/geritol. Sally softens her stance.
SALLY
You're the one that what?
But Red side-steps.
RED
Tell ya' what. You think I'm makin' a
wrong turn you speak up. Might not agree,
but I'll listen. As far as stepped on
toes and wounded pride, I'll buy everyone
a drink when we head for home. Not until.
I got more to worry about.
(beat)
That sound fair to you?
SALLY
Yes.
RED
Well okay then.
Sally turns, about to leave.
RED
So who's the other one?
SALLY
Other one?
RED
If yer' one brain, who's the other?
SALLY
Haynes. He was tested in prison.
60 INT. IMPALA - DAY 60
Butch drives and catches an occasional glance at Phillip who
sits quietly, but who, too, steals looks at his captor
between swigs of RC Cola.
He finishes off the bottle. Butch reaches in the sack for
another, pops the top on the dashboard and hands it to
Phillip.
PHILLIP
Thankyew.
(beat)
Are you gonna' shoot me?
BUTCH
No. Me'n you are friends.
(CONTINUED)
41.
60 CONTINUED: 60
Butch realizes that in Phillip's eyes he and Jerry were
probably friends.
BUTCH
If I was choosin' a runnin' buddy, I'd
take you over him any day of the week.
61 EXT. RURAL STORE - DAY 61
The RV slides to a stop in the gravel parking lot which is
full of state and local police. Red exits first, followed
by the others. A LOCAL SHERIFF walks up to greet.
RED
We got a positive I.D.?
LOCAL SHERIFF
Yessir, with only the boy as hostage. But
not five minutes ago we found something else.
62 EXT. HAY FIELD - DAY 62
PAN FROM a fingertip UP an arm and TO the face of Jerry Pugh.
A clean bullethole has left him with a third eye, a bloody
back and an entourage of late summer flies. We hear the
CLICK of a photographer's CAMERA.
BOOM UP TO Red, Local Sheriff and other bystanders.
RED
Least now we know who's in charge.
63 INT. IMPALA - DAY 63
Butch notices that Phillip is pretty somber as he tugs on
another RC.
BUTCH
Whattaya' thinkin' about?
PHILLIP
Nuthin'.
BUTCH
If I guess you tell me?
Phillip nods.
BUTCH
You thinkin' about yer mama?
Phillip sits still. That was it.
Butch brings the car to a stop. He points to the horizon.
Desolate.
(CONTINUED)
42.
63 CONTINUED: 63
BUTCH
I hear ya', Phillip, but look around. I
can't very well leave you here, can I?
64 EXT. RURAL ROAD - DAY 64
The Impala rests in the fork of a dirt road.
65 INT. IMPALA - DAY 65
BUTCH
Lemme' ask you somethin'. You right or
left handed?
Phillip meekly holds up his right hand. The car races
forward.
BUTCH
Then that's the way we'll go. You ever
ridden in a time machine before?
Phillip shakes his head.
BUTCH
Sure you have. Whattaya' think this is?
PHILLIP
A car.
BUTCH
Yer' lookin' at this thing bassackwards.
This is a 20th Century time machine.
I'm the captain and you're the navigator.
Butch points forward through the dash.
BUTCH
Out there... that's the future.
Butch taps on the rearview mirror.
BUTCH
Back there... that's the past. If life's
moving too slow and you wanna' project
yerself into the future you step here on
the gas. See?
He does so and the Impala surges forward.
BUTCH
And if yer' enjoyin' the moment yer' in,
well hell, just step on the brake here
and you can slow it down.
(CONTINUED)
43.
65 CONTINUED: 65
Butch brings the car to a complete and dusty stop.
BUTCH
This is the present, Phillip. Enjoy it
while it lasts.
Then he laughs uproariously and steps on the gas.
66 EXT. ROAD - DAY 66
The Impala spins out, kicking dirt in all directions.
BUTCH (V.O.)
Yessir. Time travelin' through Texas! We
got to find us a Ford. My daddy always
drove Fords, you know that?
67 INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 67
The Airstream sits in the parking lot of the store. Bradley
and Suttle sit up front in the truck.
INT. TRUCK - DAY
Bradley turns the knob on an intercom speaker system next
to the radio.
SUTTLE
It's an intercom speaker system. You can
get and give instructions to and from the
rear of the vehicle.
BRADLEY
How's it work?
SUTTLE
You push the power button but if you've
got the volume turned up...
Bradley pushes the power button. The SYSTEM SQUAWKS LOUDLY
and then CREAKS TINNILY. Speakers blown.
SUTTLE
... you'll blow the speakers. Sheeeit...
INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY
Red cringes, his ears still ringing from the squawk, and turns
to stare at the front of the RV.
(CONTINUED)
44.
67 CONTINUED: 67
INT. TRUCK - DAY
BRADLEY
(quiet; to Suttle)
This thing's prolly' got a warranty.
You oughta' make a list of all the
things that are wrong.
INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY
Red shakes his head and stands in front of the map, placing
thumbtacks at crossroads indicated by the circle mark.
ADLER
That oughta' put his pecker in a sling,
huh, Red?
(remembers Sally)
Sorry, ma'am.
SALLY
(ignoring Adler)
Shouldn't these be roadblocked as well?
She points to several other unmarked roads.
RED
Sooner or later he'll get on a main road.
We don't got the manpower to roadblock
every farm to market.
ADLER
In a perfect world, Miss Gerber, we'd lock
arms and thrash the bush til' he turned up...
SALLY
In a perfect world things like this wouldn't
happen in the first place.
Adler hears something on his headset, turns to Red.
ADLER
Locals are heading out. Wanna' follow?
RED
Let's sit tight. He'll turn up.
68 EXT. RURAL ROAD - DAY 68
The Impala travels slowly along the road until it edges to a
stop by the entrance to a small farmhouse with a truck and
car parked in a long dirt driveway. A farmer on a combine
works a small field.
45.
69 INT. PLYMOUTH - DAY 69
BUTCH
Ok, Phillip, we're gonna do some car
shoppin'. You ever play cowboys n' Injuns?
See that Ford sedan? Now I want you to
sneak on over there like an Injun and take
a peek and see if the keys is in it.
Phillip hesitates.
BUTCH
Don't have to if you don't wanna... but
I'd appreciate it... You bein' the new
navigator and all.
Phillip thinks it over then opens the door and slips out.
BUTCH
Hey, Phillip, check for a radio, too.
70 EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY 70
Phillip, still in his skivvies, legs cut up and muddied from
his escape from Jerry, sneaks up to the car and quietly peers
into the open window.
The keys dangle when his small hand touches them.
Phillip closes the door, looks around and then runs pell-mell
to the passenger window of the Impala.
PHILLIP
It's got keys and a radio. I checked.
BUTCH
Good man.
Phillip holds his crotch and stamps his feet.
PHILLIP
Can we stop at a fillin' station.
BUTCH
What for?
PHILLIP
Number one.
BUTCH
This here's nature, Phillip. Pee in the
ditch.
Phillip scrambles to the ditch to relieve himself while Butch
steps out of the Impala, tosses the keys into the field and
walks toward the Ford.
(CONTINUED)
46.
70 CONTINUED: 70
The FARMER stops his tractor and notices Butch and Phillip.
Phillip, despite his prior urgency, is having trouble coaxing
relief.
Butch slides into the Ford, pumps the gas pedal and turns the
key. The ENGINE GRUMBLES and DIES.
The Farmer is walking now, slowly and then at a trot as he
realizes what's happening.
Phillip finally starts to pee.
Butch cranks again and again but the Ford is flooded.
BUTCH
Start, you sonofabitch!
The Farmer runs faster, comes closer...
FARMER
Hey, that's my car! Hey!!!
Butch floors the gas to clear the flood and the ENGINE finally
STARTS. He throws it into reverse and peels out backwards
into the road beside the ditch where Phillip continues to
relieve himself.
BUTCH
Get in the car, Phillip!
The Farmer, only 30 yards or so away, is racing toward them
madder than a wet hen.
Phillip tries to hurry but the RC continues to run through
him.
BUTCH
Phillip! Get in the car!
Phillip pulls his underwear up and races to the car. He leaps
into the open passenger door at the same moment Butch steps on
the gas and the Farmer arrives and grabs onto the door as it
closes.
71 INT. FORD - DAY 71
The CAR is SCREECHING down the road but the Farmer holds on
for dear life and auto. He claws at Phillip, who does his
best to fend off flailing hands and fingers.
Butch reaches under the seat for and grasps the pistol.
Phillip sees what's about to happen and bites the Farmer's
hand as hard as he can.
(CONTINUED)
47.
71 CONTINUED: 71
FARMER
Aaaaaayyyyyy!!!!
The Farmer releases his grip on the door and falls backward,
summersaulting into the adjacent ditch.
Butch places the gun back under the seat.
BUTCH
Goddam, boy, how many RC's did you drink
anyway?
PHILLIP
Four.
Butch shakes his head and laughs.
BUTCH
One thing's for sure. You got one helluva
set of chompers.
72 INT. TRUCK - DAY 72
Sitting still. Bradley tries to light a cigarette with
the lighter but gets no heat.
BRADLEY
(to Suttle)
Lighter don't work. Put that on the list.
INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY
Bobby Lee sits alone in the back corner of the main room of
the RV. He just sits and stares, occasionally smiling
cynically at Sally.
Adler takes the latest info off the radio while the others
listen in.
ADLER
(into radio)
Highway 16 north. Four miles south of
Desdemona. Got it.
(to Red)
Stole a vehicle.
Kaiser radios up front, the ENGINE STARTS and the Airstream
moves.
RED
(to Adler)
What kinda' shape's it in?
(CONTINUED)
48.
72 CONTINUED: 72
ADLER
What's that?
SALLY
The Ford he stole.
ADLER
Owner told the locals they only drove it
to church, but it does have a bad emergency
brake.
(to Sally)
How'd ya' know it was a Ford?
SALLY
He likes Fords.
Adler looks at the map.
ADLER
Looks like you was right, Red. He's off
the farm to market and onto a spur.
Whattaya' wanna' do?
RED
Beef up the I-20 roadblock.
Adler gets more news through the headsets.
ADLER
What's that?
(beat)
Red, the locals wanna' know if they're to
take a clean shot if they get one?
Red stares out the window for what seems like an eternity...
RED
No.
Adler looks quizzically at Red and pulls off the headphones...
RADIO VOICE (V.O.)
Come back...? Come back Mobile One.
Adler, are you there...?
RED
Tell 'em what I said.
ADLER
(into mike)
Uh... no.
RADIO VOICE (V.O.)
Was that a negative?
(CONTINUED)
49.
72 CONTINUED: (2) 72
ADLER
No, er, yes. No means negative. Same
thing. Over.
Red sees Sally peering at him over the top of her file. He
glances around at the other sets of eyes.
RED
I don't want some half-ass Sergeant York
taking pot shots with a deer rifle.
Adler puts the headphones back on.
Bobby Lee smirks a bit.
SALLY
It's the only thing to do. He's got the
child with him.
Red gives her a look that says, "Don't defend me".
BOBBY LEE
(to Sally)
I suppose you figger' he'll jus' give up.
SALLY
Maybe, maybe not.
BOBBY LEE
Well now there's a safe bet.
SALLY
I'll give you a safe bet. The boy's
in better hands now than he was.
RED
The third eye Pugh's sportin' on the way
to the morgue shouts otherwise.
Sally flashes Red a look back. Bobby Lee rises and moves
past Red on his way to the toilet.
BOBBY LEE
(casually)
Then why not shoot to kill.
Red just stares at Bobby Lee as the younger man moves slowly
past him to the toilet.
Adler on the radio...
(CONTINUED)
50.
72 CONTINUED: (3) 72
ADLER
(to Red)
They've forwarded the stolen vehicle license
to the roadblocks. You still wanna' go to
the farm?
Red pulls out a package of Red Man chewing tobacco and mulls
over the question while he slaps a wad into his cheek.
RED
Yeah. I gotta' hunch.
73 INT. FORD - DAY 73
BUTCH
You got blue eyes don'tcha', Phillip?
Never met a blue-eyed Phillip before.
Who you named after?
PHILLIP
My daddy.
BUTCH
You and your old man get along all right?
PHILLIP
Yeahsir.
BUTCH
Toss the ball around, play grab-ass in the
yard, that sorta' thing?
PHILLIP
Nawsir.
BUTCH
Why the hell not?
PHILLIP
He ain't around, really.
BUTCH
Well he is or he ain't. When's the last
time you saw him?
Phillip shrugs.
BUTCH
Me'n you got a lot in common, Phillip.
The both of us got blue eyes, we both
like RC Cola and neither one of us has
an old man worth a damn.
(CONTINUED)
51.
73 CONTINUED: 73
PHILLIP
(a bit defensive)
My Mama says he'll prolly' come back.
Prolly' when I'm ten or so.
BUTCH
Well... she's lyin' to ya' pure and
simple. He ain't never comin' back.
Disappointment registers on the boy's face.
BUTCH
Guys like us, Phillip, we gotta' be on
our own. Seek foolish destiny, that
sorta' thing.
74 EXT. GAS STATION - DAY 74
The Ford pulls off the dusty road and into the lone pump in
this dilapidated petrol mirage. A BUCK TOOTH BOY, 15, in
overalls steps to the window.
BOY
What can I do ya' for?
BUTCH
(to Phillip)
Tell him your name.
PHILLIP
Phillip.
BOY
Fill-er-up it is.
The attendant starts to pump the gas.
BUTCH
See there! All you gotta' do is say your
name and people are waiting on you hand
and foot. Like a goddam king or somethin'.
Phillip can't help but smile at the notion.
75 EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY 75
Bradley and Suttle lean against the parked RV, chatting.
BRADLEY
You responsible for engine maintenance
on this thing?
SUTTLE
Uh, yeah. I'm the full time driver.
(CONTINUED)
52.
75 CONTINUED: 75
Bradley shakes his head. "Too bad".
SUTTLE
What? Why?
BRADLEY
You notice how it keeps wanting to slip a
bit goin' into second. Feels to me like
somebody's been a little heavy-footed with
the clutch.
(beat)
I'd take care of that if I was you.
PAN TO: an ambulance door opens and the Farmer, strapped in,
is rolled toward it as his wife, sobbing, attends to him.
Several local police scour the surrounding field, walking
four feet apart, looking for what they hope they won't find.
Red leans on the trunk of the Impala, chews and spits on the
ground. He sniffs the air. Unsavory. Adler strides up from
the field.
ADLER
No bodies this time, thank Gawd.
RED
You got the keys to this thing?
ADLER
Uh... naw...
RED
Get me a crowbar.
(to Sally)
You might wanna' wait in the boat.
SALLY
No thank you.
76A INT. TRUNK - DAY 76A
But it's black as night. A CROWBAR CRANKS at the lock until
the trunk blasts open like a bottletop. A blast of light
gives way to the silhouetted faces of Red, Adler and Sally,
who turns and walks away in nauseous disgust.
RED
Well....
THEIR POV - OPEN TRUNK
In it lies the crumpled, bent, bloody remains of Larry, the
prison employee, the original hostage.
RED
... there's our bureaucrat.
53.
76B RED 76B
spits a chaw, turns and walks to the RV. Near the entrance
Sally is heaving.
RED
(to no one in particular)
It's sure nice to know the boy's in good
hands.
Sally straightens herself, ready to bite back, but Red's
face is soft. He offers a handkerchief. She takes it.
RED
Gallows humor, Sally. Without it we'd
all be heavin'.
77 EXT. SMALL TOWN (NOODLE, TEXAS) - DAY 77
The Ford slides down the Main Street and into a side alley
next to a Department Store.
78 INT. FORD - DAY 78
BUTCH
You ready to get out of those skivvies
and into some britches?
Phillip nods.
BUTCH
Well all right then. But first we gotta'
come up with some A.K.A.'s, fake identities,
ya' know. Names to call each other when
we're around other folks.
(beat)
Go ahead and think one up. Whatever name
you want.
Phillip is amused by the sport of it all.
PHILLIP
Any name I want?
79 EXT. STORE FRONT - ESTABLISHING - DAY 79
A small time Dry Goods store with a sign over the entrance
proclaiming: "FRIENDLY'S - The Friendliest Store in Texas!"
80 INT. FRIENDLY'S - DAY 80
A small, well-organized country dry goods store with a dozen
or so aisles carrying everything from DDT to used boots.
(CONTINUED)
54.
80 CONTINUED: 80
A long counter at the front of the store is backed by a small
office with a large glass window that gives the Manager, MR.
WILLITS, 45, bespectacled, anal-retentive, a clear view of the
store. A nuclear family with two kids exits the store just as
Butch and Phillip enter. Butch holds the door open and smiles
at them. They say "thanks" but can't help but notice Phillip,
cowering behind Butch, still clad in his underwear. He hides
behind a nearby display which reads: Cast Your Vote For
Friendly's Friendliest Clerk!
A clerk, LUCY, 30, holding a handful of shoeboxes notices
their entrance. She's schoolmarmish with a smile that looks
like it's painted on.
LUCY
Well, hello there and welcome to Friendly's.
Looks like the little fella' needs some pants.
BUTCH
As a matter of fact. Shoes and new skivvies,
too. He'll tell you his size. Go with the
lady, Buzz.
Phillip, still in somewhat of a daze, doesn't recognize his
own "name".
BUTCH
Buzz!
Phillip snaps to, cracks a smile at Butch and follows the lady
to the children's section of the store.
LUCY
Buzz, what a cute name. Like a bee.
BUTCH
walks past the cash register, gives the clerk behind the desk
a wink and proceeds to an aisle which features hardware, rope,
tape, nails, etc. He stoops and grabs a shank...
... with his hands he grips the rope tight and jerks it taut.
CHILDREN'S AISLE
Lucy is holding jeans up to Phillip's waist.
LUCY
It'd be easier if I knew your size, but
we'll get it right.
Phillip's eye catches something...
(CONTINUED)
55.
80 CONTINUED: (2) 80
HALLOWEEN COSTUME DISPLAY
on a circular rack with shelves. Hanging prominantly is a
Casper the Friendly Ghost costume. Above it a sign reads:
"MARKED DOWN - Get the Jump on Next Year!"
CLOSEUP - PHILLIP
mesmerized by the display.
BUTCH
takes a roll of electrician's tape. He tears off a strip,
attaches it to the back or his hand and tugs. It holds tight.
LUCY
kneeling, looking for sizes, selects a pair and turns to find
Phillip gone. She spins around and smiles when she sees...
PHILLIP
wearing the Casper mask.
LUCY
Why look. It's a friendly ghost. Say 'Boo.'
PHILLIP
(unconvincingly)
Boo.
LUCY
Not very scary but you'll have a whole
year to work on it if your Daddy lets
you have it. Good price, too. What'd
you go as this year?
PHILLIP
A bandit.
81 EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY 81
A local police car cruises slowly, spots the Ford parked in
the alley and comes to a halt.
82 INT. POLICE CAR - DAY 82
The cop, TERRANCE, 25, who only started last month after he
flunked out of Texas A&M, checks the plates against a notepad
on his dash.
TERRANCE
(realizing his find)
Aw... shit...
83 INT. FRIENDLY'S - DAY 83
Butch, with a handful of supplies, including the rope and
tape, makes his way to the register.
(CONTINUED)
56.
83 CONTINUED: 83
He's greeted there by PAULA, to whom he earlier winked. She's
25, country cute, and wears a fake smile that rivals Lucy's.
Butch reaches for and tries on a pair of sunglasses.
BUTCH
Whattaya' think?
PAULA
Look good.
He adds them to the pile of stuff.
PAULA
Will that be all for you today?
Butch nods and hands over the goods.
BUTCH
You folks are about the grinninest bunch I
ever seen.
Paula laughs, then drops her grin, looks behind her to see
Mr. Willits is watching, and whispers...
PAULA
Old Man Willits holds a contest ever'
month. The friendliest clerk gets a
$20 bonus.
(beat)
There's a ballot box at the front.
BEHIND GLASS
Mr. Willits adjusts his black and white TV and settles on a
local news broadcast.
NEWSCASTER (V.O.)
(on TV)
... the hunt continues for Butch Haynes,
who escaped last night from the maximum
security unit over in Huntsville. Haynes,
six-one, 185 pounds, with brown hair is
considered armed and dangerous. He was
last seen...
CHECKOUT COUNTER
Paula checks Butch's items as Lucy and Phillip emerge from an
aisle and drop a pair of jeans and sneakers onto the counter.
LUCY
Here's the clothes, but Buzz has his
heart set on a Halloween costume for
next year. It is half off.
(CONTINUED)
57.
83 CONTINUED: (2) 83
MR. WILLITS
pays more attention to Butch as the newscast continues.
NEWSCASTER (V.O.)
... Haynes is believed to have an
8-year-old boy with him as hostage.
CLOSEUPS - BUTCH AND WILLITS
Each checking out the other.
BUTCH
(to Phillip)
We'll get it next time. Go get in the
car, son.
84 EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY 84
Terrance pulls his black and white to one end of Main Street
and parks it across the street, blocking it.
TERRANCE
(into radio)
Okay, Pete, I'm all set down here. You?
ANOTHER COP
PETE, 40, probably Terrance's uncle, slides his black and
white to the opposite end of the street and puts it in park.
PETE
(into radio)
Copasetic. Let's just keep him tied
up til' the state boys get here.
85 INT. RV - DAY 85
Adler takes the urgent message off the radio and turns to the
group...
ADLER
They've got him penned down in Noodle,
north of Abilene.
86 INT. FRIENDLY'S - AT COUNTER - DAY 86
Paula bags the items, including the jeans.
CLOSEUP - WILLITS
staring straight at Butch.
CLOSEUP - BUTCH
shakes his head at Willits -- "Don't even think about it".
(CONTINUED)
58.
86 CONTINUED: 86
PHILLIP
walks toward the front door but stops short when he sees,
once again, the Halloween display.
BUTCH
pays Paula, then stuffs a $20 in her blouse.
BUTCH
You are truly the friendliest clerk I
ever met.
She blushes a "thank you" as Butch makes a hasty retreat to
the door.
PAULA
(an afterthought)
Thank you for shopping Friendly's!
87 EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY 87
Butch exits the store, spots the blackandwhites, and slides
into the middle of a group of old-timers moving down the
sidewalk at a leisurely pace.
88 INT. FRIENDLY'S - DAY 88
Phillip stands at the costume display, looks around, then
grabs a Casper costume carton, stuffs it under his T-shirt
and walks quickly to the door.
89 EXT. SIDE ALLEY - DAY 89
Butch slides away from the Old Timers and into the Ford.
90A INT. FORD - DAY 90A
Butch checks the back seat. No Phillip, no Buzz. He checks
the rear view mirror and sees...
90B IN REAR-VIEW MIRROR 90B
Pete, his cherry top spinning, pulls in behind Butch, blocking
his entrance to the main street.
91 EXT. SIDE ALLEY - DAY 91
Butch throws the Ford into reverse and steps on the gas.
Pete not expecxting this kind of pace, at least not from the
get-go, leaps into his back seat.
The Ford rams into the black and white pushing it backward
into a lightpole and a truck. The TRUCK'S OWNER, carrying
mulch from the feed store, watches as his truck slides
toward him.
(CONTINUED)
59.
91 CONTINUED: 91
TRUCK OWNER
Dammit, Pete!!!
92 EXT. FRIENDLY'S - DAY 92
Phillip steps out the door. He spots the crash and watches
as...
The Ford blasts back into the alley in a hail of dust.
93 INT. FORD - DAY 93
Butch, driving like a maniac, turns into the back alley and
steps on it. All at once he mashes on the BRAKES and comes
to a SQUEALING stop.
HIS POV
The alley is a dead end.
BACK TO SCENE
Butch rips the CAR into reverse and SQUEALS all the way back
to the original side alley.
94 EXT. FRIENDLY'S - DAY 94
Phillip stands frozen, scared, not knowing what to do but
keeping a look out on the street for the Ford.
95 INT. FRIENDLY'S - DAY 95
Lucy and Paula peer from behind the counter at Phillip and
the fracas taking place in the street.
LUCY
I knew something was wrong from the get-go.
They spot Phillip standing a few feet in front of the door.
PAULA
Look, he left his little boy.
LUCY
And look, the little rascal has... he's
no better than...
PAULA
What?!...
LUCY
He's got that Casper costume. He stole it!
96 EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY 96
The FORD emerges from the side alley once more and SQUEALS
onto Main Street.
(CONTINUED)
60.
96 CONTINUED: 96
TERRANCE
can't believe his eyes...
HIS POV - FORD
is COMING STRAIGHT FOR him, hell bent on destruction and
picking up speed.
BACK TO SCENE
Terrance sticks his black and white in rapid reverse and backs
down the street at 40 mph.
PETE (V.O.)
(on radio)
Get the hell outta' there. We can't
lose both vehicles!
TERRANCE'S POV - FORD
is GAINING ON him -- he can actually SEE Butch's grimaced face
-- when suddenly it goes into a dusty fishtail, does a 180,
and barrels in the OPPOSITE direction.
PHILLIP
antsy as hell, stuck, wondering how this whole thing is going
to play out. He's suddenly aware of the peering eyes behind
him. Lucy bangs on the glass.
LUCY
(yells)
Buzz! You little shit. Shoplifting is
a crime!
BUTCH
checks his mirror, looks ahead, spots Phillip and blasts
straight for the front door of the store. He SKIDS to a halt
and stares right at Phillip.
BUTCH
Up to you, Buzz...
PHILLIP
He's frozen for a second, his knees knocking, teeth
chattering, the works. Lucy appears behind him and the
glass door...
LUCY
(to Phillip)
You'll never get away with this, little
mister!
Phillip dashes to the Ford and makes a swimmer's starting
dive into the open passenger window.
(CONTINUED)
61.
96 CONTINUED: (2) 96
Butch pulls his GUN and FIRES once into the glass door above
the clerk's heads.
97 INT. FRIENDLY'S - DAY 97
The GLASS DOOR and surrounding WINDOWS SHATTER into a million
pieces, sending Lucy, Paula, makeup, pantyhose, grins and all
into a heap on the floor.
98 EXT. STREET - DAY 98
The FORD SQUEALS out down the street. Pete crawls out from
behind the seat and ducks again just as...
... the Ford sideswipes the black and white for good measure
and fishtails out of town.
Pete crawls over the back seat again as his radio SQUAWKS...
TERRANCE (V.O.)
Pete?... Pete? You okay?...
99 INT. FRIENDLY'S - DAY 99
Paula emerges from behind the counter and stares at Lucy, on
the ground amidst glass and mayhem.
PAULA
Say what you want. I'm keepin' the twenty.
100 EXT. RURAL ROAD - DAY 100
Two young, country boys stand by the side of the road. One,
FRANK, tosses an egg from hand to hand while he watches the
horizon. The other, BILLY, approaches, crawling through a
barb wire fence dragging something behind him.
FRANK
Hurry up. Someone's comin'.
ON HORIZON
Sure enough, a hail of dust signals the approach of a vehicle
a mile or so away.
Billy crawls into the ditch next to Frank. We see what he's
dragged from the field -- a scarecrow with a floppy hat and
red bandana.
FRANK
Stick it in the road. Hurry up.
Billy does so, propping the scarecrow into a sitting position
with a forked stick. Then he races back to the ditch and
slides in next to Frank to divide the eggs.
(CONTINUED)
62.
100 CONTINUED: 100
FRANK
We got seven eggs. I get four to throw
and you get three... since it was my idea.
Billy nods.
FRANK
Here they come. Aim for windows and get
ready to run.
The car crests the hill, followed by another, and another and
a final one, all Highway Patrol, all with their lights on and
SIRENS WAILING.
FRANK
Oh shit!
The cars don't even slow at the sight of the scarecrow, blast-
ing right through it, sending hay, hat, limbs and all, flying.
The scarecrow, or what's left of it, lands in a ditch next to
the boys. In unison they breathe a sigh of relief, look at
each other, drop the eggs and hightail it for home.
101 INT. FORD - DAY 101
The car is parked in a field of some sort. Butch reaches in
the back seat for the bag of clothing.
BUTCH
Here, take them nasty skivvies off and
put on yer' jeans.
He spots Phillip's not so successful effort to hide the
costume box.
BUTCH
Whatya' got there?
PHILLIP
A ghost suit.
BUTCH
From the store? You kyped it?
Phillip nods, expecting the worst.
BUTCH
Well, hell, Phillip, put it on.
PHILLIP
You ain't mad?
BUTCH
Let's unnerstan' each other here.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
63.
101 CONTINUED: 101
BUTCH (CONT'D)
Stealin's wrong, ok? But if there's
somethin' you need bad and you ain't got
the money, then it's okay to take a
loaner on the item. It's what ya' call
an exception to the rule.
Phillip tears into the box, rips out the costume, looks at it,
starts to take off his underwear then balks. Butch notices.
BUTCH
What's wrong?
PHILLIP
Nuthin'.
Butch notices Phillip's hands covering his crotch.
BUTCH
What? You don't wanna' get undressed,
is that it?
Phillip shrugs.
BUTCH
You embarrassed caus' I might see yer'
pecker?
PHILLIP
It's... puny.
BUTCH
What?
PHILLIP
It's puny.
BUTCH
Well hell, lemme' see.
Phillip still hesitates.
BUTCH
Go on. I'll shoot ya' straight.
Phillip gingerly pulls off his underwear. Butch smiles a
broad grin.
BUTCH
Hell no, Phillip, it's good size for a
boy yer' age!
Phillip, remasculated, smiles and starts to put on the
costume.
BUTCH
Here they come.
64.
102 EXT. RURAL ROAD - DAY 102
The four Highway Patrol VEHICLES from before BLAST past at
90+, sending stray dogs and roadrunners scurrying for cover.
CRANE DOWN to reveal the Ford off the same roadside, but
behind a burm in a field. As soon as the patrol cars pass,
Butch STARTS up the ENGINE and humps it to the road and off
in the opposite direction.
103 INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 103
Sally, deep in her files. She looks up from the file to...
ANOTHER ANGLE
Bobby Lee who sits by himself, whittling away at a stick and
leering at her. Adler is at the map, holding the shortwave
mike and wearing the earphones. Behind him, Red stares out
the window.
ADLER
Haynes bought tape, rope, and some clothes
for the boy.
Red comes to and turns to Adler. Sally smiles almost to her-
self. She was right -- Haynes is looking after the boy.
Everyone knows it, but no one says anything.
ADLER
One puzzler though. They say the boy
could have gotten away but didn't.
SALLY
Probably scared to death.
ADLER
That's not all. The kid stole a
Halloween outfit.
RED
Holy Jeezus, they're a team.
ADLER
With the pit stop in Noodle looks like
he's headed for the Panhandle.
Red sighs and groans. Unpleasant news but somehow he knew it.
He moves to the back room for another shot of Geritol.
SALLY
(to Red)
What?
ADLER
There's more roads than people in the
Panhandle.
(CONTINUED)
65.
103 CONTINUED: 103
SALLY
How's that happen?
KAISER
(over his shoulder)
Poor counties. They tend to half finish
roads then start on another one.
ADLER
But if anybody knows them backroads it's
Red.
Sally lifts her head, watches Red reenter the room, then
stares out the window.
SALLY
Okay, so... I'm Robert Haynes. Called
Butch by everyone. I was born in
Amarillo, but grew up in the French
Quarter of New Orleans.
ADLER
(sotto voce)
What's she doin', Red?
SALLY
I killed a man when I was eight.
Silence. Nobody seems willing to play along. Red turns
from the window to Sally.
RED
How'd ya' kill him?
SALLY
Shot him with a pistol. There was always
one around the dance hall. That's what
they called it but it was a whorehouse.
We lived there.
Red moves away from the discussion and stands at the front
of the Airstream, staring out the front window.
ADLER
What'd the authorities do?
SALLY
The victim was wanted by the locals so
the whole thing got shoved under the
carpet Cajun-style.
ADLER
They didn't even stick him in juvy?
(CONTINUED)
66.
103 CONTINUED: (2) 103
SALLY
Put me in school. Three years behind
but I catch up.
KAISER
Sounds like things are goin' okay' now?
SALLY
They were. For awhile. When I'm twelve
mom dies.
ADLER
What happened?
SALLY
Delilah Jane Haynes hung herself in the
bathroom of the brothel. Could have saved
herself the trouble. Post-mortem check
uncovered last stage syphilis.
KAISER
Where's yer' father?
Red's face tells us he's listening.
SALLY
Nobody knows where he is now. Ditched
when I was six. He was a small-time felon.
Popped up again after Mom died -- he'd just
been paroled. Moved us back to Amarillo.
A year later I'm in trouble again.
ADLER
Yeah? Kill somebody else?
SALLY
Took a joyride in a Ford coupe that I
just couldn't resist.
KAISER
Hell, that's no big deal.
SALLY
Judge gave me four years in Gatesville,
toughest juvy farm in Texas.
ADLER
That's where the son-of-a-bitch learned
to be a criminal. Seen that before,
ain't we, Red?
Red doesn't answer. He seems in a faraway place.
(CONTINUED)
67.
103 CONTINUED: (3) 103
BOBBY LEE
(smart ass)
So, Butch, why don't you tell us where
yer' goin', save us the trouble o'
huntin' you down?
SALLY
Where I'm going isn't as important as
'Why am I going there?'
BOBBY LEE
(tired of the game)
Shit. 'Caus' I'm runnin' and they're chasin'
and I'd jus' as soon go north as south as
east as west. It's a fun lil' parlor game,
lady, but right now Butch Haynes don't
have the slightest idea where he's headed!
104A INT. FORD - DAY 104A
Phillip, now fully-attired in his Casper outfit and mask, is
looking at a folded map while Butch drives.
BUTCH
An inch is 24 miles. Hold yer' pointin'
finger along the line of the road. You
got three lines on your finger, don'tcha'?
Each one's an inch. So how many inches
to Childress?
Phillip holds one finger to the map, then another.
PHILLIP
One, two... six.
BUTCH
Yer' a helluva' navigator, Phillip. A lot
smarter than Jerry. But I guess that's not
sayin' a lot.
Something catches Phillip's eye.
PHILLIP
Lookie there!
104B HIS POV - TRUCK AND AIRSTREAM 104B
coming TOWARD them on the highway.
105 INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 105
Bradley, driving, tinkers with a broken windowshade.
Suttle yawns, comes to, notices the broken windowshade and
gives Bradley a look. Bradley, caught, just smiles.
68.
106 INT. FORD - DAY 106
BUTCH
(excited, too)
Seen one of them in a magazine. It's
called a motor home. They're new.
Kinda' like a house on wheels.
Butch HONKS the HORN TWICE and waits for a retort.
107 INT. TRUCK - DAY 107
Bradley smiles, looks to Suttle, who nods an "okay." Johnson
sits on the HORN for TWO solid BLASTS.
108 INT. FORD - DAY 108
Phillip laughs and waves.
109 INT. TRUCK - DAY 109
Bradley and Suttle wave back.
SALLY
staring out the window. She looks at the passing Ford.
HER POV
Butch is hard to make out, but there's no mistaking the Casper
outfit Phillip wears with pride.
BACK TO SCENE
SALLY
You said the boy stole a Halloween costume...
What character?
ADLER
I believe it was Casper... Casper the
friendly ghost.
SALLY
That was them. They just passed us.
RED
Turn this thing around!
Adler jumps on the radio to the truck.
ADLER
(into mike)
Turn it around! That was them!
110 EXT. ROAD - SAME TIME 110
The Airstream slows to a grind, pulls off the narrow shoulder
and begins to make a wide U-turn.
(CONTINUED)
69.
110 CONTINUED: 110
SUTTLE (V.O.)
We'll never make it. Stop!
It's a close fit but the Airstream just survives a brush with
a burm. The TRUCK PEELS away with Airstream in tow.
111 OMITTED 111
111A INT. FORD - DAY 111A
Butch checks his rear-view mirror and gets a puzzled look on
his face.
IN REAR-VIEW MIRROR
The Airstream barreling fast behind -- catching up.
111B INT. TRUCK - DAY 111B
Bradley presses the pedal to the floor. The ENGINE STRAINS.
Suttle nervously sneaks a peek at the speedometer.
SUTTLE
It's... it's not safe to go over 65 with
this much load!
The speedometer reaches 80. The ENGINE SCREAMS.
111C INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 111C
The whole thing is shaking, twisting, bumping. All aboard try
and keep their balance.
BOBBY LEE
(to Adler)
Tell him to pull up next to 'em!
Bobby Lee opens a window and leans out.
111D INT. FORD - REAR-VIEW MIRROR - DAY 111D
As Bobby Lee leans out the window of the Airstream some 50
yards back.
NEW ANGLE
Phillip turns around backward in the seat to watch.
PHILLIP
They're goin' fast!
BUTCH
Phillip, you get in the back seat and
lie down on the floor.
(CONTINUED)
70.
111D CONTINUED: 111D
PHILLIP
Why?
BUTCH
Hell, I don't know. 'Caus' I said so!
111E INT. TRUCK - DAY 111E
Suttle is scared to death while Bradley is loving every
minute. The ENGINE starts to STEAM.
SUTTLE
Yer burnin' up the engine!
But Bradley pays no heed.
111F INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 111F
Bobby Lee unholsters his pistol and leans back out the
window. Red spots him.
RED
Holster that firearm and get yer ass
back inside!
Bobby Lee thinks it over, shakes his head in disgust and
holsters his piece.
111G INT. FORD - DAY 111G
Butch spots an opening and...
BUTCH
Hold on, Phillip!
111H EXT. ROAD - DAY 111H
The Ford makes a sharp veer off the road into a flat scrub
brush field. The car spins out a bit when it hits the dirt
sending forth a dust devil, then it regains its traction and
blasts ahead through the dust.
111-I INT. TRUCK - DAY 111-I
Bradley spots the maneuver and starts to follow.
SUTTLE
Don't!!!
111J EXT. ROAD - DAY 111J
The truck, in an attempt to enter the field, misses the flat
spot, hits a burm with its front right tire and flies into
the air.
(CONTINUED)
71.
111J CONTINUED: 111J
The trailer hitch snaps as does the safety chain.
The truck lands hard and continues pell-mell through the
field.
The AIRSTREAM, sans truck, BLASTS forward along the road
at 50+ m.p.h.
111K INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 111K
Bouncing like hell. Sally holds on for dear life, then
glances out the window and almost jumps out of her seat when
she sees...
HER POV
The truck, 100 or so yards away, blasting through the field
toward the horizon.
SALLY
Shit!!!!
NEW ANGLE
Red spots the same but before he can cuss...
111L EXT. ROAD - DAY 111L
The Airstream veers off the road and into the rocky field.
Trees, scrub brush and boulders are no deterrent for the
sleek silverfish which seems to be moving even faster than
before.
111M INT. TRUCK - DAY 111M
Steam, smoke pouring from the engine. Suttle, covering his
eyes, sneaks a peek behind and screams when he sees no
Airstream behind them.
SUTTLE
Ahhhh!! They're gone!!!
Bradley looks in the rear-view mirror, turns around and
screams, too. Without visual guidance...
111N EXT. FIELD - DAY 111N
The TRUCK BLASTS into a mesquite tree, runs halfway up
the tree, then dies a horrible death.
111-O INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 111-O
It's an anti-gravity room what with the files, coffee, maps
and bodies flying around.
72.
111P EXT. FIELD - DAY 111P
The Airstream, now losing a bit of steam, hits a burm, almost
topples and comes to a precarious stop in a dried-up watering
hole.
111Q INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 111Q
Adler, still wearing the headphones, rises first and goes to
the radio to answer an incoming call.
Red groans. Sally crawls to her feet and offers Red a helping
hand, which he accepts.
ADLER
Uh... Red?
RED
What?
ADLER
They wanna know if the boy looked
okay?
SALLY
He was laughing and waving.
RED
Don't tell 'em that.
112 INT. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE (AUSTIN, TEXAS) - DAY 112
A large group of very serious advisors sit and stand in a
circle around the Governor's desk. Across from GOVERNOR
CONNALLY sits a nervous, near tears GLADYS PERRY. An AIDE
on the telephone, turns to the Governor.
AIDE
They say the boy looked A-okay.
Governor Connally nods, sighs, and reaches hand across the
desk and touches Gladys's shoulder.
GOVERNOR
He'll be fine, Mrs. Perry. This whole
nightmare will be over and done with very
soon and you'll be home with your boy. I
promise.
Gladys, distraught, nods. Governor Connally discreetly nods
to a photographer in the group while keeping his hand on
Gladys's shoulder. A CAMERA'S FLASH causes everyone to blink
in reaction.
The Governor shakes it off and continues...
(CONTINUED)
73.
112 CONTINUED: 112
GOVERNOR
I want you to know that I personally okayed
the use of a brand-new high-tech mobile
home from which to conduct the manhunt.
It's an amazingly futuristic piece of law
enforcement equipment.
Another FLASH.
113 OMITTED 113
thru thru
115 115
115A EXT. FIELD - DAY 115A
The Airstream, the amazingly futuristic piece of law
enforcement equipment sits beat to hell and leaning to one
side in the dry pond bed. All the tires are flat and dents
and bruises abound. The door tries to open but is stuck.
Red applies a boot to it and the whole thing comes off its
hinges and flies to the ground. Red exits. He groans and
shakes his head when he spots...
Bradley and Suttle limping toward him across the field.
Red sighs and starts slowly walking in the direction Butch
and Phillip headed.
115B INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 115B
Sally, her hair a bird's nest, does her best to collect her
files before she sits down, takes a deep breath and glances
out the window at Red in the distance.
115C EXT. FIELD - CLOSEUP - RED - DAY 115C
Standing in the middle of the field, staring at the horizon.
He sticks a chaw in his mouth without diverting or blinking
his eyes.
116 EXT. ROAD - CLOSEUP - BUTCH - DAY 116
Staring at the horizon.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Butch sits on the hood of the Ford, which is stopped on an
asphalt road which, a few feet farther, turns into dirt and
a few feet farther a dirt clod field.
(CONTINUED)
74.
116 CONTINUED: 116
BUTCH
Started this road 20 years ago and it
still ain't finished.
(beat)
Appears to me we got a decision to make.
Phillip, aka Casper, exits the car and, imitating Butch, leans
against the car.
BUTCH
It's up to you, Phillip. We can backtrack
to the highway or we can try it on foot.
PHILLIP
Where we goin'?
Butch reaches in his back pocket and pulls out a folded
postcard. He hands it over to Phillip.
INSERT - CARD
It's at least 20 years old, crumpled. It unfolds to reveal a
beautiful green valley with a snow capped mountain behind it.
BACK TO SCENE
BUTCH
It's Alaska, Phillip. Last of the wild
frontier.
PHILLIP
It's pretty.
BUTCH
It's beautiful!
PHILLIP
You been there?
BUTCH
Naw. Just got the one postcard. But
anyhoo, back to our present dilemma. You
feel like a hike?
PHILLIP
How far?
BUTCH
Can't be more'n, oh, say, fifteen hundred
miles.
Phillip seems a tad apprehensive about the prospect.
(CONTINUED)
75.
116 CONTINUED: (2) 116
BUTCH
Yer' prolly' right. Go give our supplies
a check.
Phillip returns to the car and emerges with the paper bag once
full of soda, candy and jerky. Butch surveys the countryside.
HIS POV - PAN COUNTRYSIDE
Typical midwest Texas; flat, dusty, barren. A mile or so
away sits a home -- a small ranchhouse.
BACK TO SCENE
Phillip returns with the bag and pores through it.
BUTCH
How's it look?
PHILLIP
A soda... some gum... half a Moon Pie.
BUTCH
Rations for one at best. Come on.
Butch strides straight into the rocky field. Phillip
lingers a moment, then sticks the half eaten moon pie in
his mouth and follows, hurrying to catch up.
117 OMITTED 117
thru thru
122 122
122A EXT. FIELD - AIRSTREAM - DAY 122A
Suttle limps around the broken-down silver junker, his hands
covering what his eyes can't bear to see.
BRADLEY
Now yer sure that gooseneck had a safety
chain?
Suttle turns and glares.
SUTTLE
Yes!!!
NEW ANGLE
Red walks slowly toward the slumping Airstream. A PHONE
RINGS from inside, then STOPS. Adler sticks his head out of
the door and calls to Red...
(CONTINUED)
76.
122A CONTINUED: 122A
ADLER
Governor's hot line, Red. Governor
insists that he have the mobile home
back for the parade tomorrow.
Red just stares at Adler, then sighs, removes his hat and
scratches his head.
RED
(isn't it obvious?)
Tell 'em to come and get it.
123 EXT. DUSTY FIELD - DAY 123
Butch continues his hell-bent brisk pace in the field of dirt
clods. It's all Phillip can do to keep up.
PHILLIP
Where we goin'?
BUTCH
We're goin' trick r' treatin', Phillip.
Phillip stops dead in his tracks. Butch, sensing that the boy
is no longer following, stops, spins and faces Phillip.
BUTCH
What?
PHILLIP
We ain't allowed to trick r' treat.
BUTCH
Huh?
PHILLIP
My mama don't allow it.
BUTCH
Trick r' treatin'? Why not?
PHILLIP
Against our religion.
BUTCH
Against yer' religion. What kind of
foolishness is that?
PHILLIP
Jehovah Witness.
Butch picks up a dirt clod and hurls it as far as he can. He
sighs and turns to Phillip.
(CONTINUED)
77.
123 CONTINUED: 123
BUTCH
Now, I'm askin' you, Phillip. I ain't
askin' yer' mother and I ain't askin'
Jehovah. Do you wanna' go trick r'
treatin' or not?
124 EXT. YARD OF FARMHOUSE 124
Butch and Phillip cross the dirt yard and make their way to
the door.
BUTCH
Ok, Phillip, all ya' gotta' do is knock
on the door and when they open it you say
'trick or treat.' Got it?
They arrive at the door. Butch nods at Phillip who RINGS the
BUZZER.
BUTCH
Now wait til' they come.
A FARM WIFE, 65 or so, like something from a Grant Wood, only
smiling, opens the door and looks out on the pair through the
screen door.
BUTCH
(whispers)
Now, Phillip.
PHILLIP
Trick r' treat.
WOMAN (FARM WIFE)
Well ain't you the cutest lil' ghost I
ever did see.
BUTCH
(whispers)
Say it again, Phillip.
PHILLIP
Trick r' treat, ma'am.
WOMAN
Well, seein' that Halloween was yesterday,
I guess you'll have to trick me. You
missed the caramel popcorn balls I made
up special.
Butch smiles, pulls up his shirt and exposes the revolver
stuck in his pants.
WOMAN
(tune changed)
Wait right here.
Butch smiles and pats Phillip on the shoulder. His eyes are
drawn to...
(CONTINUED)
78.
124 CONTINUED: 124
HIS POV - TELEPHONE WIRE
which enters the house near the door. We PAN WITH the
telephone line FROM the house TO a nearby pole.
BACK TO SCENE
The Woman returns with an armload of anything she could find
in the kitchen. Phillip gratefully opens his sack and watches
as the Woman drops in a loaf of bread, a jar of mustard,
candies, jams, butter and anything else she could find.
Empty-handed she reaches inside the door, opens her purse and
dumps her money -- a couple of dollars and lots of change into
the bag.
Phillip smiles.
PHILLIP
Thankyew.
125 EXT. YARD - DAY (SECONDS LATER) 125
Phillip, sack in hand, waves goodbye to the frightened old
Woman, who shuts her door and locks it.
Butch and Phillip make their way back across the yard.
BUTCH
Never underestimate the kindness of the
common man, Phillip.
Butch reaches up and grabs the phone line, yanks it loose and
tosses it aside.
126 INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 126
The Airstream is fast becoming a pig sty. Coke bottles,
coffee spills, overfull ashtrays, etc. are everywhere. Adler
holds the mike and stares at the thumbtacked map.
ADLER
(into mike)
Spur 208 northbound. And 83 at Aspermont
coming and going.
(to Red)
That it?
RED
Yeah.
Adler moves to set down the mike and topples a cup of coffee.
It spills on the floor. Suttle grabs a towel to wipe it up
but realizing the futility of keeping the Airstream clean, he
simply throws it aside.
79.
127 INT. FORD - LATER - DAY 127
Butch drives while Phillip digs through the sack and comes
up with a jar of mustard.
BUTCH
You sure there's no meat in there? Spam
maybe, Vienna sausages, anything like that?
PHILLIP
Nawsir.
BUTCH
Well, I bet you can make us some mustard
sandwiches, can't ya'?
PHILLIP
Yeahsir.
BUTCH
Well go to it.
Phillip breaks out the loaf of bread and lays out four
slices on the dashboard.
PHILLIP
How many?
BUTCH
Many as you want.
Phillip lays out six more slices. The dashboard is now
covered with bread. Phillip pulls out the mustard but has no
knife. Butch pulls out a stick of gum and hands it to
Phillip to spread with.
As they drive along they pass a large, happy family (Mom, Dad,
girl 5, boy 7) picnicking in the dip of a long hill alongside
the highway. From the look of their brand-new loaded down
station wagon they are on vacation.
CLOSEUP - PHILLIP
Mesmerized by the family.
CLOSEUP - BUTCH
Ditto. He pulls his eyes back to the road, notices something.
128 EXT. ROAD - DAY 128
Butch brings the car to a stop near the crest of the hill,
sets the emergency brake, grabs the first completed mustard
sandwich and gets out, leaving the Impala running.
(CONTINUED)
80.
128 CONTINUED: 128
BUTCH
Be right back. Don't be stingy with
that mustard now.
Phillip nods and continues piling the yellow goop on each of
the slices of bread.
BUTCH
walks ahead to the crest of the hill, the tallest hill in the
county. He takes in the 360 degree view. His eyes settle
on...
LINE OF CARS
IDLING as they wait their turn to pass a roadblock at the
bottom of the hill.
PHILLIP
spreading even more mustard. Every so often he sneaks a peek
back at the picnicing family.
EMERGENCY BRAKE
slips a little, then gives all at once.
FORD
starts to roll backwards.
PHILLIP
Whooaaa! Butch! Butch!!!
BUTCH
turns and sees the Ford rolling backwards, picking up steam
back down the hill.
BUTCH
Step on the brake! Put your foot on the
brake! The middle one!!
PHILLIP
panicked, slides over and grabs the wheel. Of course, he is
too short to press on the brake and when he bends down...
FORD
swerves off the road and onto the shoulder.
(CONTINUED)
81.
128 CONTINUED: (2) 128
FAMILY
headed by BOB, 35, their Ward Cleaverish father, looks up to
see...
FORD
barrelling backwards toward them, swerving to and fro and
followed by Butch shouting instructions.
BOB (O.S.)
Everybody, run! Quick!
BOB
makes a beeline for the station wagon.
BOB'S WIFE
Forget the car, Bob!
BOB
Are you crazy. It's only got a 1000 miles
on it!
He jumps in the Driver's seat of the WAGON and frantically
REVS it just as...
PHILLIP
gains control of the wheel and steers the rapidly reversing
Ford around the Wagon.
FORD
continues backwards to the bottom of the hill, but it has
enough steam built up to head backwards up the other incline
of the previous hill.
BUTCH
comes to a heaving halt next to Bob, who is near heart attack
himself.
BUTCH
Bad brakes.
BOB
That was close.
Bob gets out of the station wagon and stands next to Butch.
They watch for the Ford for a second, see that it's losing
momentum and smile at each other.
(CONTINUED)
82.
128 CONTINUED: (3) 128
BOB
Bob Fielder.
BUTCH
Edgar Poe.
PHILLIP
breathes a sigh of relief as the Ford loses momentum and comes
to a stop. But then, of course, ...
FORD
like any car on a roller coaster, starts to move downhill,
slowly at first, but then picking up speed.
BOB AND BUTCH
BOB
Had me scared silly. I've only had her
two months.
BUTCH
She's a beaut, all right. Say, Bob, what
with my brake problem and all, I sure would
appreciate a lift. Me'n my boy live about
five miles up the road here. I can pick
up the car tomorrow.
They notice the Ford coming back down the hill and squint to
see...
FORD
coming straight for them, gaining speed, with Casper the
friendly ghost behind the wheel.
BUTCH AND BOB
chuck the small. Bob looks for a place to hide.
CLOSEUP - PHILLIP
Screaming at the top of his lungs.
CLOSEUP - BUTCH
Staring straight ahead at Phillip.
Butch doesn't even flinch, standing his ground in the middle
of the road, staring straight into Phillip's oncoming face.
BUTCH
The brake, Phillip! Step on the brake!
Hard!
(CONTINUED)
83.
128 CONTINUED: (4) 128
PHILLIP
totally freaked, jumps down on the floorboard and pushes with
both hands on the brake. SQUEALING TIRES bring...
FORD
to a SKIDDING halt inches from Butch's kneecaps.
CLOSEUP - BUTCH
smiles at Phillip.
BUTCH
Helluva job, Phillip! Never had a doubt.
CLOSEUP - PHILLIP
Smiling back.
BOB
crawls down from the luggage rack on top of his wagon and
smiles a sigh of relief.
129 EXT. ROADBLOCK - DAY 129
Two Highway Patrol officers check licenses and peek into cars
at the checkpoint. In the b.g. we see the red station wagon
in line.
130 INT. STATION WAGON - DAY 130
It's full to the brim with the Family Bob plus two, Butch
and Phillip, who ride in the back with Bob's son. As the
car approaches the roadblock Butch grabs a blanket, reclines,
and hides behind a stuffed animal.
BOB
Sorry for the inconvenience, Edgar. The
kids like the back down like that so they
can play.
BUTCH
No trouble at all, Bob.
131 EXT. ROADBLOCK - DAY 131
Bob brings his precious car to a gingerly stop. He pulls out
his license, shows it.
BOB
Why the roadblock, Officer?
OFFICER
Escaped convict, sir. Just a precaution.
84.
132 EXT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 132
Bradley examines the gooseneck hitch. Bobby Lee sits on a
nearby rock, still whittling at his stick. It's starting to
resemble something.
133 INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 133
As in the old Westerns, it's quiet, too quiet. The inside of
the RV is pretty much trashed now -- the product of men
working in close contact. Sally stares at a file. The
silence is broken as Red spits tobacco juice into an empty
Coke bottle.
Sally peruses a file.
INSERT - FILE
It's Butch's again. She's reading an addendum page with
JUVENILE COURT RECORD stamped at the top. A photo of 14-year-
old Butch is stapled in the corner.
BACK TO SCENE
Sally finds something very interesting. She looks up at Red.
He returns her stare.
RED
What?
134 EXT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 134
Bobby Lee finishes his whittling, blows away shavings,
smiles at his creation, sets it on the rock, gets up and
walks away.
CLOSEUP - HIS CREATION
A four inch long wooden replica of a high caliber shell.
135 INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 135
Adler is getting something on the shortwave.
ADLER
(to Red)
They've got two Highway Patrol cars they
can give to us now.
RED
Tell 'em stand by. We got the best seat
in the house right here. Have the
southern roadblocks call in the dogs and
move north. Check every road, every farm
from San Angelo to Sweetwater.
(CONTINUED)
85.
135 CONTINUED: 135
Adler surveys the map and sticks in a few more thumbtacks.
ADLER
He knows he's hemmed in. I predict we'll
have him singing a different tune by
nightfall.
136 EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY 136
The red station wagon creeps along the highway to the
whistled strains of "Old MacDonald had a Farm."
137 INT. STATION WAGON - DAY 137
Butch, truly "singing a different tune," whistles "Old
MacDonald." Bob joins in and soon the whole damn Family Bob
is whistling the tune.
Bob's daughter PATSY, 5, red hair, freckles, starts jumping
up and down on the back seat, singing and spilling her drink.
BOB'S SON
You're spilling! You're spilling!
Bob and his Wife immediately turn around.
WIFE
Patsy! Look at what you're doing?!
BOB
Ahhh noooo!
Bob's wife grabs Patsy by the arm and shakes her. Butch con-
tinues to whistle softly, almost eerily, but he's watching
closely.
BOB'S WIFE
Look at what you did! It's all over
the seat of your father's new car!
The little girl starts to cry while Bob grabs at tissues
feverishly and hands them to his Wife who, leaning over the
seat is wiping hard at the stain. She grabs her daughter's
arm and shakes her, staring into her face.
Butch, directly behind the little girl, watches closely.
BOB'S WIFE
What is wrong with you?! I told you twice
not to jump up and down! Didn't I!!
Patsy bawls harder than ever. Bob's Wife finishes wiping and
reseats herself in the front seat.
(CONTINUED)
86.
137 CONTINUED: 137
BOB'S WIFE
(to herself)
Damn that kid!
The little girl is crying harder than ever now. Bob reaches
back over the seat and tries to touch his daughter.
BOB
It's okay, sweetie. Daddy's not mad.
BOB'S WIFE
So much for the new car smell.
The little girl muffles her tears.
Butch smiles sincerely then looks to the passing landscape.
BUTCH
This will do fine right here, Bob. But I
do have one more favor to ask.
138 EXT. ROAD - DAY (FIVE MINUTES LATER) 138
The entire Family Bob is standing along the roadside, their
luggage and belongings by their side. The looks on their
faces say it all -- Stranded.
Butch hands over the stuffed animal to Patsy, pats Bob Jr. on
the head and sticks out his hand to Bob.
BUTCH
Just a loaner, Bob. Not to worry. You'll
get her back.
Bob reluctantly shakes Butch's hand in an attempt to impress
upon Butch his most important concern of all...
BOB
Please, it's new. Hold it under 45... at
least for the next 500 miles.
BUTCH
You know I will, Bob.
Butch gives a snappy salute and is off to the wagon.
139 INT. STATION WAGON - DAY 139
Butch STARTS the CAR and he and Phillip slowly pull away.
BUTCH
Wave, Phillip.
Phillip does so. Bob's kids wave back. Phillip starts to
giggle.
(CONTINUED)
87.
139 CONTINUED: 139
PHILLIP
They look funny.
BUTCH
Maybe, but Bob did the right thing. What
if he'd put up a fight? I mighta' had to
shoot him, and where would that family be
then? Naw, Bob's a fine family man and
that's about the best thing a fella' can
hope to be.
Butch floors the wagon and the CAR SCREECHES rubber on the
highway.
BOB
cringes as he watches his pride and joy rocket toward the
horizon.
140 EXT. ROADBLOCK - DAY (LATER) 140
The Highway Patrol continues to monitor cars one by one. One
of the Officers sees something and nudges his partner to look
at...
FAMILY BOB
cresting the hill carrying their hats in their hands along
with their luggage and coolers.
141 INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 141
Adler drops his headphones and turns to Red.
ADLER
He got through! At Aspermont.
BRADLEY
What?
ADLER
Coerced a motorist.
Red sighs.
RED
Well goddam, shout at Amarillo. Tell 'em
we got a notion he's headed their way.
Adler gets right to it.
(CONTINUED)
88.
141 CONTINUED: 141
RED
(almost to himself)
Truth is I wish he'd cross the border so
we could turn this over to the feds.
Nobody in the room expected to hear this.
RED
I got work to do back home.
Red rises and stretches, walks to the open door and stares out
at the late afternoon light.
RED
I'm hungry. This thing got any food?
SUTTLE
Well, uh...
Adler jumps up and goes to the frig.
ADLER
Got T-bones in the frig, Red!
SUTTLE
Uh, uh, those were stocked for the Governor.
I don't think that he would approve of...
Adler finds a plastic bag in the freezer and inspects it.
ADLER
-- And look, Red! Tater Tots! Those
kind you like!
Red turns and looks.
RED
That so?
142 INT. STATION WAGON - DAY 142
Butch fiddles with the RADIO. He settles on a Spanish
station playing a BALLAD and ADJUSTS the VOLUME.
BUTCH
Can't find a Coonass Waltz to save my ass.
(beat)
Hey, Phillip, that stuff you told me 'bout
not trick r' treatin' causa' Jehovah... Was
you pullin' my leg?
PHILLIP
Nawsir.
(CONTINUED)
89.
142 CONTINUED: 142
BUTCH
What else ain't you suppose' to do?
PHILLIP
We don't get Christmas.
BUTCH
Yer' shittin' me?
PHILLIP
Nawsir. No birthdays, nor parties, neither.
BUTCH
You ain't never been to a carnival neither,
have ya'?
PHILLIP
Nawsir.
BUTCH
Not even one?
PHILLIP
Not even one.
BUTCH
Cotton candy?
PHILLIP
Seen that once. It's red.
BUTCH
Pink.
PHILLIP
Never ate none though.
BUTCH
Roller coasters?
BUTCH
Seen pictures.
BUTCH
You know, Phillip, you have a goddammed
red, white and blue American right to eat
cotton candy and ride roller coasters.
PHILLIP
I do?
90.
143 EXT. STATION WAGON - EXTREME CLOSEUP - PHILLIP'S OPEN 143
MOUTH - DAY
screaming. PULL BACK to reveal...
CLOSEUP - PHILLIP
still screaming in glee, the wind blowing his crew-cut
straight up into the air.
PULL BACK FARTHER to reveal that Phillip is firmly tied to
the luggage rack of the station wagon, which is rocketing
across the winding plains of West Texas.
BOOM DOWN to reveal Butch, having almost as much fun as
Phillip, hooping and hollering as he steps on the gas and
weaves to and fro trying his damndest to hit every bump.
144 EXT. PLAINS OF WEST TEXAS - LONG SHOT - DUSK 144
A Nehi Orange sun pours itself into the Grape-Ade Davis
Mountains. PAN ALONG the horizon PAST nothing but open spaces
... Then a red neon sign, small and broken down, like the spit
grill diner it advertises.
The stolen station wagon sits alone beside the pressed dirt
parking lot of Dottie's Cafe.
145 INT. DOTTIE'S CAFE - DUSK 145
A skinny, small town WAITRESS checks her face in a bathroom
mirror. She applies too much lipstick and pinches her cheeks
before exiting. We FOLLOW as she exits the kitchen bathroom
door, grabs two already prepared hamburger platter specials
from beside the grill and moves through a swinging door into
the diner. A counter, three booths, grease everywhere...
She sets the two plates in front of Butch and Phillip at a
booth.
Butch digs in but Phillip holds for a beat. Butch notices
and stops chewing while Phillip says "grace".
PHILLIP
(quiet as a mouse)
Thankyew, Father, for yer' 'boundiful'
nature and goodness.
Butch and the Waitress/cook share a smile.
BUTCH
Amen. Now dig in, Buzz.
(to Waitress)
Call him that caus' he eats like a buzzard.
If it's dead he'll swoop and chow.
(CONTINUED)
91.
145 CONTINUED: 145
She leans down to the table and flirts with her overdone eyes.
BUTCH
You Dottie?
WAITRESS
Eileen. Dottie died. Her son runs the
place but... he ain't never here.
BUTCH
Never?
EILEEN (WAITRESS)
He leaves at four. Not much traffic
after lunch.
She brazenly stares a hole through Butch as she lifts a slice
of pickle off his plate, places it in her mouth and slowly
chews.
Phillip, mouth full, takes note of the confusing spectacle.
Eileen turns to walk away.
EILEEN
If you need me, I'll be right over here.
She slowly sashays away to behind the counter.
Butch watches her every step. Phillip chews and watches
Butch's eyes. Butch turns his head and catches Phillip
watching him.
BUTCH
Eat yer' food.
146 EXT. FIELD - AIRSTREAM - DUSK 146
A SIRLOIN STEAK hits a grill beside a Tater Tot shiskabob and
SIZZLES to beat the band.
A homemade barbecue pit, built from nearby abundant rocks,
sits square in the middle of the highway with red flares set
up just in case a car did come by.
Red smiles and shakes a liberal dose of Lea and Perrins onto
the flesh. He's obviously a veteran of many back yard B-BQs
and this is definitely one.
We see Sally THROUGH the window. She's inside, still going
over her files. She gets up and walks into the back room to
look for something.
(CONTINUED)
92.
146 CONTINUED: 146
BOBBY LEE
sitting outside, rises and slides into the Airstream while
BACK TO SCENE
Red continues to cook with Adler and Bradley looking on.
147 INT. AIRSTREAM - BACKROOM - DUSK 147
Sally turns on a nightlight and looks at herself in the
mirror. She splashes a little water on her face and is
startled when ...
Bobby Lee slides in behind her.
BOBBY LEE
Think yer' pretty smart now don'tcha'?
She doesn't back down, instead looking him straight in the
eye.
SALLY
Excuse me?
BOBBY LEE
Well yer' not smart but you are pretty.
Sally stares right at Bobby Lee then moves for the door. He
shifts his position and blocks her.
SALLY
Excuse me.
Bobby Lee smiles a crooked-tooth grin, refusing to move.
BOBBY LEE
Work and pleasure should naturally go
together don't you think? Take me, I
enjoy my work.
SALLY
I could give a shit.
BOBBY LEE
You got a mouth, don't ya?
RED (O.S.)
How you take your steak, Sally?
Bobby Lee and Sally both look up to see Red standing in the
doorway.
(CONTINUED)
93.
147 CONTINUED: 147
SALLY
(relieved)
Uh.. rare.
RED
A woman after my own heart.
She takes this opportunity to slide between Red and Bobby Lee
on her way into the main room. As she goes...
RED
I'll just wipe its ass, herd it through and
you can cut off a hunk. How'd that be?
SALLY
Maybe medium-rare.
Bobby Lee and Red are left standing face to face.
RED
I don't give a damn who you work for.
You're here for one reason and one
reason only.
BOBBY LEE
Anything else, Chief?
RED
Yeah. Yer' in my office.
The hot line PHONE RINGS...
Bobby Lee flinches first and moves back into the main room.
Red follows.
ADLER
That's the Governor's line, Red!
Red calmly walks past Sally who smiles a "thanks". He gives
her a one finger to the hat salute, walks to the phone,
reaches down and yanks out the cord. The RINGING STOPS.
RED
Nuthin' as impolite as callin' at the
dinner hour.
148 INT. DOTTIE'S CAFE - NIGHT 148
Phillip, at the booth, plays with the parsley on his empty
plate, which sits across from Butch's barely touched one. The
boy looks over his shoulder and sneaks a peek at Butch, who
sits at a barstool watching Eileen work behind the counter.
(CONTINUED)
94.
148 CONTINUED: 148
AT COUNTER
Butch leans over and whispers something sexy into Eileen's
ear. She giggles and licks her lips.
Butch feels eyes on his back and looks at Phillip, who
immediately turns away from them. When Butch returns his
attention to Eileen she's moved a few feet away and is
refilling ketchup bottles.
BUTCH
Buzz, go ahead and chew on mine if you want.
PHILLIP
No thankyew.
Eileen slides back down toward Butch. She makes refilling
condiment bottles the sexiest pasttime since the hula hoop.
EILEEN
Very polite.
BUTCH
I try hard but, ya' know, since his mama
died...
PHILLIP
-- My mama's not dead!
Butch, a tad annoyed, turns to Phillip and gives him a look.
Once again, when he turns back, Eileen has moved.
She's flirting with Butch, moving, bending, wiping her hands
on her hips. His eyes are focused on her every squirm.
BUTCH
(over his shoulder)
Okay now, Buzz, you go on out in the parking
lot and chunk some rocks or something.
BACK TO SCENE
Phillip reluctantly slides down off the stool and slowly walks
out the door. His eyes stay on Butch and Eileen, barely
concealing confusion mixed with a hint of jealousy.
EILEEN
So is she dead or not?
BUTCH
(covering badly)
Well his biological mother is alive. Gave
him up for adoption to me and my wife. My
dead wife, that is. She is, was Phil, er
Buzz's stepmother, so she's his mom, was his
mom, stepmom, but... she's dead.
(CONTINUED)
95.
148 CONTINUED: (2) 148
EILEEN
I'm so sorry.
But she's not. In fact it seems to have turned her on even
more.
She puts her hand behind Butch's neck and slowly pulls him
close for gentle kiss.
149 EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT 149
Phillip tosses a rock then turns to the diner. They're gone.
Phillip drops his handful of rocks and walks to the front
window of the diner.
PHILLIP'S POV - DINER
It is empty. He sees that the kitchen swinging door is still
swinging on its hinges.
150 INT. DINER - ADJUNCT OFFICE - NIGHT 150
A one room addition office built onto the kitchen. It has a
desk against one wall, a few chairs, a fan -- pretty sparse.
Two large windows throw light from the outside neon sign onto
the room. A large lamp provides harsh light.
Eileen leads Butch by the hand into the room, closing the door
behind them. At once they are all over each other. Butch
lifts her up onto the desk and starts to kiss her face and
neck. Then, in an instant, he flips her over, pulls the
ribbon from her hair and unzips the back of her waitress
outfit to the waist. He kisses her neck, her back and
suddenly, passionately, he flips up her skirt and begins
kissing her voluptuous backside.
151A EXT. DINER - NIGHT 151A
Phillip, a bit scared, moves around the side of the front of
the diner and sees something.
151B PHILLIP'S POV - THROUGH WINDOW 151B
In profile Butch continues to kiss Eileen's buttocks. She
moans in ecstasy.
151C BACK TO SCENE 151C
Phillip, like a pacifist at a prizefight, doesn't want to
watch but can't not watch. He moves down the wall to a
window positioned right at the desk. When he stops he's right
in front of the window, separated from Butch and Eileen by
only a foot of air and a thin plate of glass.
96.
151D PHILLIP'S POV - BUTCH AND EILEEN 151D
Kissing, writhing, but FROM this ANGLE all he can really see
is a mane of hair swinging to and fro. Butch is out of sight
but it's obvious that his lips continue to caress Eileen's
backside. She cranes her neck, arching it like a swan,
moaning like a wildebeast and then...
She stops and stares STRAIGHT AHEAD. Butch continues to kiss
but only for a beat, sensing the locomotive he's on has
stopped at an unscheduled station. He slides his face from
around her rear, a la Kilroy, and he stares, too. Except for
their continuing heavy breathing they could be modern art
statues staring STRAIGHT AHEAD AT...
152A INT. OFFICE - REVERSE - NIGHT 152A
Phillip's nose is pressed to the glass. In fact if he pressed
any harder there wouldn't be any glass.
152B BUTCH AND EILEEN 152B
hold their pose for a second until...
152C PHILLIP 152C
comes back to real time and bolts away into the darkness of
the parking lot.
EILEEN
Nosy little feller'.
152D BUTCH 152D
races to the side window and watches as Phillip runs into the
parking lot.
BUTCH
Phillip!...
EILEEN
(a last try)
I keep a cot in the back.
But Butch, still at the window, just keeps breathing.
153 EXT. DOTTIE'S CAFE - ANGLE ON SKY - NIGHT (SECONDS 153
LATER)
Nothing but stars swimming in black West Texas crude.
PHILLIP
stands right next to the SPUTTERING NEON SIGN, staring
straight up, the neon light splashing his face in a grotesque
pink light.
(CONTINUED)
97.
153 CONTINUED: 153
BACK TO SCENE
In the b.g., over his shoulder, the cafe door opens, CLANGING
a string of BELLS as Butch hastily exits and walks past
Phillip.
BUTCH
Get in the car.
154 INT. STATION WAGON - NIGHT 154
Silence. Butch drives away libidinous desires, Phillip sits
quietly, staring straight ahead, now and again stealing a peek
at Butch.
PHILLIP
You mad at me?
BUTCH
(curt)
No.
More silence.
PHILLIP
You kissed her, huh?
BUTCH
(much regret)
Jus' barely.
PHILLIP
Why?
BUTCH
Caus' it feels good. Ain't you ever seen
your mama kiss a man?
PHILLIP
No.
(beat)
You kissed her backside, huh?
BUTCH
It's, well, uh, it's kinda' hard to
explain. I know how it musta' looked.
(beat)
Hell, I don't know how it looked....
As Butch's voice trails off silence overtakes the car. After
a few seconds Butch seems happy not to have to answer any
more questions. Phillip fidgits with the door handle.
Several more seconds pass, then...
(CONTINUED)
98.
154 CONTINUED: 154
PHILLIP
Do you love her?
BUTCH
Who?
PHILLIP
The lady that cooked the hamburgers?
Butch ponders this, then a grin slides across his face.
BUTCH
Yeah, Phillip, I love her.
(beat)
Kissed her butt didn't I?
And they both start to laugh.
155 EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT (LATER) 155
The station wagon pulls off the main dirt road and onto a
smaller, private road. After 150 yards or so, it leaves the
graded dirt and, shocks bouncing, crosses into a plowed field
and comes to a dusty stop.
BUTCH (V.O.)
You wanna' drive?
PHILLIP (V.O.)
Yeah!
BUTCH (V.O.)
Jus' kiddin', Buzz. I'm just gonna' stop
here for awhile and catch 40.
156 INT. WAGON - NIGHT 156
Butch KILLS the ENGINE but keeps the RADIO MUSIC on low.
BUTCH
Things go our way we'll be in Alaska in
four or five days. Get the jump on winter.
Phillip looks a little sad.
BUTCH
What's wrong?
PHILLIP
I wanna' go home.
BUTCH
If you wanted to go home so bad, why
didn't you stay at that store today?
(CONTINUED)
99.
156 CONTINUED: 156
PHILLIP
Caus'.
BUTCH
Caus' why?
PHILLIP
'Caus' I stole. They'd put me in jail.
Prolly' go to hell.
Butch chuckles at the notion.
BUTCH
Same difference. We'll get you home soon.
I swear, okay?
PHILLIP
Butch?
BUTCH
Yeah, Phillip?
PHILLIP
I can drive.
BUTCH
Done proved that ain'tcha'? There's lots
and lots of stuff you can do, Phillip.
(gets an idea)
Reach in that glovebox there. See if
Bob's got a notepad or something.
Phillip extracts a small ringed memo pad.
BUTCH
Good old Bob. Can you write?
PHILLIP
I can print.
BUTCH
Good enough. Now I want you to make a
list of everything you ever wanted to do
but wasn't allowed to. Okay?
PHILLIP
Like what?
BUTCH
Like... cotton candy.
PHILLIP
Cotton candy?
(CONTINUED)
100.
156 CONTINUED: (2) 156
BUTCH
Hell I don't know. It's yer' list.
Butch settles in for a catnap. Just as his eyes close...
PHILLIP
Butch?...
BUTCH
Yeah?...
157 EXT. FIELD - NIGHT 157
Only the dome light and the LOW MUSIC bring attention to
the car sitting lonely in the middle of the massive field.
PHILLIP (V.O.)
How ya' spell 'rocketship?'
158 INT. AIRSTREAM - NIGHT 158
The aftermath of a full scale Texas Bar-B-Q: plates full of
gristle and bone, cigarettes burning in ashtrays and swirl-
ing in half-drunk bottles of Coke and mugs of coffee, men
groaning and picking their teeth with toothpicks.
Bradley, Adler and Suttle are dead-ass asleep and snoring.
Bobby Lee, too mean to sleep, sits by himself cleaning his
fingernails with a pocket knife.
159 EXT. FIELD - NIGHT 159
Red leans against the Airstream and sips coffee from his
thermos. Sally walks up, sipping from a mug, and leans
against the bumper. Red doesn't even turn.
RED
Figger to give 'em another hour of
shuteye, then grab the patrol cars and
head for the Panhandle.
SALLY
Bring back any memories?
RED
Too many.
Red turns to her. They both know he's divulged something.
RED
They got a file on me, too?
(CONTINUED)
101.
159 CONTINUED: 159
SALLY
It's the 60's, Red. They've got a file
on everybody.
RED
Just caus' it's written down don't make
it true.
SALLY
You worked as County Sheriff in Amarillo
and Austin before you became a Ranger.
Right so far?
(beat)
Oh, and it says your name's Cecil.
RED
Yeah, well, that's definitely the worst
of it.
Red uncorks his thermos and refills Sally's mug. She takes
a sip and almost chokes on it.
SALLY
Strong... but good. So Cecil...
Red gives her a strong look.
SALLY
Red. What do you do when you're not at
work.
RED
The file don't tell ya' that, too?
SALLY
Nope.
RED
I got a ranch I never visit, nieces I
hardly know, a tackle box full of dry lures
and a dog that figures he's the owner and
I'm the pet. Could have a point, he's
there more.
SALLY
A confirmed bachelor. Any regrets?
RED
Liked to have wet those lures. Maybe a
new dog.
(beat)
How'd you get into... whatever the hell
it is you do?
(CONTINUED)
102.
159 CONTINUED: (2) 159
SALLY
My father's defense lawyer.
RED
That explains your mouth.
Sally smiles.
SALLY
Instead of Home Ec, I studied Criminology.
When I graduated, my father, with the
Governor's help, they, he and my dad...
I created a position for myself with the
prison system.
RED
What's yer' husband think about all
this?
SALLY
Don't own one.
RED
Yer' not careful you'll wind up jus' like
me. Old, tired, with nobody around to
love ya'.
SALLY
Maybe.
RED
It's crazy ain't it?
SALLY
What's that?
RED
Goin' without sleep chasin' after a
three time loser and Casper the Friendly
Ghost?
SALLY
Sleep? That's what retirement's for.
RED
Bite your tongue.
SALLY
You wanna' know what's really crazy?
Hayne's juvenile court record lists you
as Amicus Curiae.
Silence save the CRICKETS.
(CONTINUED)
103.
159 CONTINUED: (3) 159
SALLY
Friend of the court. Evidence given by a
non-party with the intention of swaying
the judge one way or the other. They're
usually in written form, but there's no
copy attached.
Red doesn't flinch.
SALLY
Okay, then at least tell me why Haynes
got four years for a joyride? What about
probation? The boy had a home, a father.
RED
What's your file say about him?
SALLY
That he was a petty thief who did a little
time, got out and stayed pretty clean.
RED
There are murderers I'd trust with my
mother and petty thieves I wouldn't
turn my back on. Your precious files
are wrong.
SALLY
I'm listening.
RED
Hayne's old man was a career criminal
with a soft spot for whores. One way or
the other he beat the hell outta' every
person he ever crossed, screwed or
fathered. Judge sends junior home with
the old man and you can bet your last
dollar that within a year he'll have a
rap sheet as long as yer arm.
(beat)
I know kids who did Gatesville, made it
through, shaped up. Hell, one's even a
priest.
Sally realizes she's opened an old wound.
SALLY
Still, I don't understand from the file
why...
RED
-- This job ain't about files and books
and second guessin'. Ya get one shot
and ya call 'em like you see 'em.
(CONTINUED)
104.
159 CONTINUED: (4) 159
SALLY
I'm a bit confused...
Red tosses out the rest of his coffee.
RED
In Texas the bottom line is who ya' know
and what they owe ya. That's how I do
my job and how you got yours.
He turns to walk inside.
SALLY
(a bit ticked)
What are you trying to say?
Red stops, faces Sally.
RED
I bought the judge a T-bone and told
him to send the boy up. Told him it
was the right thing to do. He went
along right down the line.
Red disappears. Sally just stares after him, her face
once again soft.
160 INT. STATION WAGON - CLOSEUP - MEMO PAD - NIGHT 160
resting on Phillip's lap.
BACK TO SCENE
His fingers release it as he drifts to sleep.
CLOSEUP - PHILLIP
asleep, the way a child sleeps. Soundly.
CLOSEUP - BUTCH
also asleep, but only his body -- his mind works over-
time...
DISSOLVE TO:
161 SERIES OF SHOTS - BUTCH'S DREAM 161
(NOTE: the entire dream is a series of snapshots to a
strong Coonass beat)
A) A baby snapshot of Butch.
(CONTINUED)
105.
161 CONTINUED: 161
B) A Haynes family photo -- a grizzled father standing
behind a mother seated holding a baby. They stand
in front of a small, white framed house.
C) Extreme closeup -- The baby in the snapshot - Butch.
D) Snapshot of a young Butch, age 6, with his father and
another adult male, who are both holding deer rifles
with one hand and with the other the antlers and head
of a dead deer.
E) Extreme closeup -- Butch's father from the same photo.
F) Snapshot of Butch, 8, with his mother but no father.
G) An establishing snapshot of a nightclub in New Orleans.
The gaudy sign above the joint reads: CLUB - DANCE HALL.
H) A snapshot of Butch's mother dressed in a somewhat
sleazy Latino outfit. She's surrounded by 3 or 4
lounge lizard types, whose hands are all placed on
parts of her body. She has a drunken sneer on her face.
I) Snapshot of Butch, 8, being taught to dance in the club
by his mother. He looks awkwardly into the camera.
J) Snapshot of Butch, 8, sitting on the bar of the club,
surrounded by a motley group of sleazy "dime dancers".
K) Another snapshot of Butch being taught to dance by his
drunken mother.
(NOTE: A heavy MACHINE GROWL should START LOW and INCREASE
IN VOLUME through the remainder of these fast-paced series
of cuts.)
L) Snapshot of Mom dancing very closely, too closely, to
a handsy patron of the club.
M) Snapshot of Mom kissing the same man. We see a tattoo
on his arm.
N) Extreme closeup -- the tattoo. It is of a naked
girl. The words "hell-bent" in cursive frame the
tattoo.
O) Snapshot of Mom sitting on the tattooed man's lap at
the bar. His hand is resting on the inner portion of
her thigh.
P) Snapshot of Butch at the bar with the club bartender.
Q) Same as (K) -- Butch being taught to dance.
(CONTINUED)
106.
161 CONTINUED: (2) 161
R) Extreme closeup -- Butch in same photo.
S) Same as (J) -- Butch in bar with dime dancers.
T) Extreme closeup -- Butch in same photo.
U) Same as (O). Mom with tattooed man.
V) Extreme closeup -- tattooed man from same photo.
W) Snapshot of crime scene in the bar. A man lies on the
floor in a pool of blood. Onlookers, including some of
the dime dancers and Butch's mom, express their shock
at the incident while police photographers and newsmen
look on.
X) Extreme closeups -- Some of the onlookers faces.
Y) Extreme closeup -- Butch's mom's face. As opposed to
the others, her face is rather displaced. You'd think
she'd witnessed a fender bender instead of a murder.
Z) Extreme closeup -- The face of the victim. It's
the tattooed man.
AA) Extreme closeup -- The tattoo.
The ROAR of the MACHINE GROWL is now DEAFENING as the image
of the tattoo...
FADES INTO:
162 BRILLIANT WHITE LIGHT 162
that FILLS the FRAME.
INT./EXT. STATION WAGON - NIGHT (PRESENT)
Except it's brighter than the brightest day as a high power
light shines directly at...
EXTREME CLOSEUP - BUTCH
who exits his dream and enters reality with a throttled
shock. He squints and tries to discern the source of the
light while groping for his gun under the seat.
BUTCH'S POV - WHITE LIGHT
It's bright as hell but getting clearer, less fuzzy.
We can now see it's the headlights of a huge COMBINE which
sits, ENGINE RUNNING, directly in front of the station
wagon.
(CONTINUED)
107.
162 CONTINUED: 162
A BLACK MAN - 50 or so, KILLS the ENGINE (but leaves the
lights on) steps down from the combine cab and starts
toward the station wagon.
BACK TO SCENE
Phillip, now wide awake and scared. He notices that...
Butch is fingering the gun, resting it in his hands and
under his right leg.
The Black Man, whose name is Mack, crosses the front of the
wagon and walks to the driver's side window.
MACK (BLACK MAN)
Didn't mean to scare ya'. I work at
night. It's cooler. Ya'lls car break
down?
BUTCH
Me n' the boy was just catchin' some
shut-eye in yer' field.
MACK
Oh, it ain't mine. I just works it for
Mr. Andrews. Where ya'll from?
BUTCH
Drove from Texarkana yesterday.
MACK
Quite a haul.
BUTCH
Said a mouthful there.
MACK
Well, ain't no sense in ya'll
sleepin' in the car. Not when I got a
fold out couch sittin' empty.
BUTCH
Wouldn't want to put you out. 'Sides we
need to get back on the road.
MACK
No trouble t'all. Wake you up first
light, fill yer' belly and send you on
yer' way.
163 EXT. RURAL ROAD - FIRST LIGHT - DAY 163
A Highway Patrol car, followed by a tow truck, breeze along
the highway.
164 OMITTED 164
108.
165 INT. HIGHWAY PATROL CAR - DAY 165
Two officers, MONTGOMERY and HALL, scan the horizon. They
look like they've driven all night.
Saunders wakes up in the back seat and leans forward.
SAUNDERS
We didn't pass it did we?
Saunders spots the RV on the horizon.
MONTGOMERY
There it is.
166 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 166
The patrol car stops, as does the tow truck.
167 INT. PATROL CAR - DAY 167
Hall and Montgomery view the beat to hell RV while Saunders,
ready to cry, jumps out and runs into the field.
MONTGOMERY
Good Gawd Almighty. Governor ain't
gonna' like this.
168 INT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 168
Suttle is asleep among the rubble. He jumps to when
Saunders bursts in. Saunders gasps when he sees the shape
his prize vehicle is in.
SAUNDERS
Where are they?!
SUTTLE
Uh, uh, they're gone.
SAUNDERS
How long?!
SUTTLE
I don't know, uh, four, five hours.
Saunders, dejected, starts to move some of the trash from
the couch. He sits down and moans...
SAUNDERS
Well, goddammit, did he say anything?
SUTTLE
Yeah.
(CONTINUED)
109.
168 CONTINUED: 168
SAUNDERS
What?!
SUTTLE
Well, uh, Chief Garnett wanted me to tell
you that the vehicle gets his seal of
approval....
Saunders' face begins to turn red.
SUTTLE
And that he wants his chair back.
If he was red before, now Saunders is crimson. A ther-
mometer dropped into boiling water.
169 EXT. AIRSTREAM - DAY 169
We hear a SCREAM and then a second later, Red's desk chair
comes flying out the door. It hits a rock and splits as it
bounces.
170 EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY 170
Two Highway Patrol cars rocket along, one behind the other.
171 INT. LEAD PATROL CAR - DAY 171
OFFICER JONES, a lean, hard-nose of 25, drives. Adler in
the front seat, Red and Sally in the back. Not a word is
spoken. Serious business.
172 INT. SECOND PATROL CAR - DAY 172
ANOTHER OFFICER drives this car. Kaiser rides shotgun
working the radio. In the back seat sit Bobby Lee and
Bradley.
173 INT. MACK'S HOUSE - DAY 173
A COFFEEPOT RATTLES on the stove.
Two black hands move the pot and rescue overfried eggs in
a skillet on the stove.
Two small black feet dangle from a too-high bathroom
toilet. As they hit the ground we hear a FLUSH. We
FOLLOW the feet DOWN down a short hall and into the
living room. As they pass the bottom of a fold-out couch
we...
BOOM UP to reveal Butch and Phillip asleep. Butch's arm
has found its way under Phillip's head and is acting as
an early morning pillow.
(CONTINUED)
110.
173 CONTINUED: 173
A small head pops up on the side of the bed nearest
Phillip. The six-year-old eyes of CLEVELAND peer close
to Phillip and watch, only inches away, as Phillip sleeps.
Phillip's eyes blink a bit and then they open...
PHILLIP
(scared)
Aaaayyyyy!
CLEVE
(more scared)
Aaaayyyy!!!
Butch jumps up like a rocket and is on the floor in an
instant.
BUTCH
Aaaayyyyy!!!!
Cleve races into the kitchen and the apron strings of his
grandmother, Mack's wife, LOTTIE.
LOTTIE
He wake ya'll up?
(to Cleve)
Now I told ya not to do that.
BUTCH AND PHILLIP, breathing hard, can't help but laugh.
BUTCH
No harm, Ma'am.
LOTTIE
I'm Lottie. Mack's wife. This here's
my grandbaby, Cleveland.
CLEVE
Name's Cleve. I'm six.
PHILLIP
I'm eight. Mine's Buzz.
174 INT. MACK'S KITCHEN - DAY 174
Butch, Cleve and Phillip finish breakfast while Lottie
pours coffee. Cleve and Phillip, hitting it off well, are
engaged in fervent storytelling.
CLEVE
We got us a creek down the way.
Wanna go later?
(CONTINUED)
111.
174 CONTINUED: 174
PHILLIP
Sure thing.
Mack enters after a hard night's work.
BUTCH
Mornin' to ya.
MACK
Mornin'. Rest done ya'll some good.
LOTTIE
You wanna plate?
MACK
Not jus' yet.
(to Cleve)
Boy, go get my thermos from the truck.
Cleve, still whispering and giggling with Phillip, isn't
really listening.
MACK
Don't ya hear good, boy?!
Mack firmly cuffs the boy's ear and Cleve jumps up and out
the door, one hand holding the side of his head. Butch and
Phillip both look up at Mack.
MACK
Boy don't got the sense Gawd gave a
chicken.
175 INT. LEAD PATROL CAR - HIGHWAY - DAY 175
JONES
Want me to stay on Highway 70?
RED
Let's head on over towards Amarillo.
We'll cross him there or wave goodbye at
the border.
176 INT. MACK'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY 176
Phillip sits on the couch and watches as Butch shows Cleve
a trick. Cleve bends over, puts his hands between his legs
and Butch grabs them and pulls -- a flip. Cleve is
ecstatic at the result. Phillip and Butch laugh along.
CLEVE
Agin'! Do it agin'!
(CONTINUED)
112.
176 CONTINUED: 176
LOTTIE
(to Butch)
Where's the boy's mother?
BUTCH
We left her at home this time. Boy's
night out kinda thing.
Butch spots an old phonograph.
BUTCH
Say, lookie here.
He gives it a spin with his finger and searches through a
stack of 78s.
LOTTIE
Mr. Andrews give 'em to us when he got
hisself a newfangled one.
Butch finds a particular favorite.
BUTCH
Jeezus. Now this is music. You know
how long it's been since I heard this.
LOTTIE
That's an oldie all right. Mrs.
Andrews' maiden name was Bougeois --
half-Creole herself she is, but Mr.
Andrews he don't like nobody to know.
'Suppose that's why he give 'em to us.
177 INT. BATHROOM - DAY 177
Mack drops his pants and sits on the throne. He reaches
over and turns ON the RADIO resting on the wash basin. A
FARM REPORT comes on just as...
178 INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY 178
A NEEDLE DROPS on a 78, filling the room with the SCRATCHY
sounds of a Coonass waltz.
Butch's eyes come to life.
BUTCH
You dance, Lottie?
LOTTIE
Lawd goodness no.
(CONTINUED)
113.
178 CONTINUED: 178
BUTCH
Here, jus' follow me.
He takes her in his arms and slowly but surely adjusts her
movement to his. After a few rough turns they're not too
bad.
Phillip can't help but smile as he and Cleve watch and
giggle.
Butch and Lottie dance, swirling around the room.
LOTTIE
Mr. Poe, you sure can move.
BUTCH
Oughta be able to. Was raised in a dime
a dance whorehouse.
LOTTIE
Yer' foolin' me?
BUTCH
No, ma'am. My mama would dance their
asses out of the fryin' pan and into the
back room fire.
Butch spots Phillip and Cleve, watching, giggling.
BUTCH
Get on yer' feet, Buzz. You'n Cleve
shake a leg.
LOTTIE
(encouraging)
Well go on!
Cleve and Phillip reluctantly stand and stare at one
another.
BUTCH
Dance, boys!
The little boys do their best to emulate the adults and
soon they're laughing and dancing, too.
The RECORD STOPS. They all clap and laugh. Butch hears
something... The RADIO in the bathroom.
179 INT. BATHROOM - DAY 179
Mack sits, cleaning his fingernails with a Barlow knife as
the radio announcer begins a news flash.
(CONTINUED)
114.
179 CONTINUED: 179
ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
Update on the manhunt for the escaped
convict. Haynes is armed and extremely
dangerous. He is believed to have a
hostage with him, an eight-year-old boy.
A finger turns OFF the RADIO. We FOLLOW the finger UP an
arm TO Butch's concerned face. He sits down on the edge of
the tub across from Mack and takes the knife away from him.
BUTCH
We'll be leavin' soon enough. I'll kill
all of you if you try anything stupid.
Mack swallows hard.
180 INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY 180
Lottie quizzes Phillip...
LOTTIE
What's Texarkana like? I ain't never
been there.
PHILLIP
(through his teeth)
Oh, it's real nice. I got a dog named...
Phillip and a tree house and...
Mack, nervous, enters the room followed by Butch.
BUTCH
Come on, Buzz. Time for us to hit the
road.
LOTTIE
Whass' wrong, Mack? You look like you
seen a ghost.
Cleve runs up to Butch, turns around backwards and puts his
hands between his legs.
CLEVE
Do me agin'!
MACK
(scared for the boy)
No! Boy! Get over by yer' Mammaw!
Lottie senses something is wrong. Cleve, too young to
smell trouble, persists...
CLEVE
Come on, Mister, do me agin'!
(CONTINUED)
115.
180 CONTINUED: 180
Butch smiles and starts to oblige the boy, but Mack inter-
venes and smacks Cleve hard, sending him sprawling to the
floor bawling.
Butch, instantly enraged, back-hands Mack, grabs him by the
collar and tosses him onto the floor.
Phillip -- frozen, sitting, watching as things go from bad
to worse.
Cleve -- confused, bawling, afraid.
Butch pulls the gun from his pants, bends down, picks up
Mack by his throat, presses the gun in his mouth and lifts
him into a chair beside Lottie. He bends close to Mack --
their noses are inches apart.
BUTCH
Why'd ya' wanna' go and hit Cleve for?
He didn't move fast enough for ya', is
that it? Or maybe he gets excited
sometimes and don't hear everything ya'
say? You make me sick to my stomach.
Butch spits in Mack's face, then rises and walks over to
Phillip and hands him the revolver.
BUTCH
Point it at 'em.
PHILLIP
I don't wanna'...
BUTCH
Point it!
Phillip does so, occasionally wiping a tear from his eye.
Mack reaches down and holds Lottie's hand.
Butch kneels down to a still-sobbing Cleve.
BUTCH
Now, son, you wanna' flip?
Cleve shakes his head "no" between sobs. Butch gently
takes the boy and lifts him to a standing position.
BUTCH
Go ahead. Put yer' hands between yer'
legs. I won't hurt ya'.
Cleve turns to Mack and then runs to him. Butch walks
calmly over and pulls the crying child away from the old man
and back to the center of the room.
(CONTINUED)
116.
180 CONTINUED: (2) 180
BUTCH
(to Mack)
He don't trust ya' no more. You gotta'
earn that, ya' know?
(to Cleve)
Put yer' hands 'tween yer' legs, son.
Cleve, still sobbing, does so. Butch reaches down and
flips him, all the while staring at Mack. Each time he
flips the boy, Butch reaches down, grabs Cleve's hands and
flips him again.
Finally he allows the frightened child to go to Mack and
Lottie.
Butch takes the gun from Phillip.
BUTCH
Buzz. Go out to the car and get that
rope.
Phillip stands frozen.
BUTCH
Phillip!...
Phillip slowly rises and walks away. He stops for a moment
and turns his back.
EXTREME CLOSEUP - PHILLIP
His eyes lock in a gaze with...
EXTREME CLOSEUP - CLEVE
His sobbing eyes plead for something, anything.
181 EXT. HOUSE - DAY 181
Phillip exits the house, walks past an old well to the
station wagon. He opens the door, stops, looks back.
182 INT. HOUSE - DAY 182
Butch sits on the coffee table across from Mack, Lottie and
Cleve.
BUTCH
(to Mack)
Now you hold that boy and tell him you
love him.
Mack grabs Cleve and sets him in his lap.
(CONTINUED)
117.
182 CONTINUED: 182
MACK
(scared)
I love you.
Butch cocks the revolver and slides forward. His nose is
almost touching Mack's.
BUTCH
No, old man. Say it like you mean it.
MACK
This boy know I loves him, mistah'.
BUTCH
Then say it.
LOTTIE
Please, mistah'. I gotta' sense about
you. I know you a good man.
BUTCH
Nome', I ain't a good man. Ain't the
worst neither, jus' a different breed.
183 EXT. HOUSE - DAY 183
Phillip is at the screen door looking in. He holds the bag
in his hand.
HIS POV
Butch sits on the coffee table, which is pushed right up
to Mack, Lottie and Cleve, who sit on chairs.
184 INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY 184
Butch, enthralled with the episode he's directing, almost
quivers with anticipation.
BUTCH
Say it, Mack. Don't cost nuthin'.
MACK
I love you, Cleve.
BUTCH
(serious)
Gawd that's beautiful.
Butch spots Phillip standing at the entrance to the living
room with the bag. He takes it from the boy, empties the
contents -- candy, cookies, bread, sugar and all -- and
picks up the rope, takes Mack's Barlow knife from his
pocket and cuts off a long shank. Butch takes the rope and
begins to tie up the three.
(CONTINUED)
118.
184 CONTINUED: 184
Phillip stands, stares, aware that something bad is
happening.
Butch finishes tying, sticks the knife in his pocket and
walks over to the PHONOGRAPH. He turns it back ON. The
SCRATCHY RECORD plays. He turns UP the VOLUME.
BUTCH
(to Phillip)
You can go wait in the car or you can
watch. Yer' old enough to think for
yer'self.
Phillip, unsure what to do, stands his ground.
Butch returns to his seat on the coffee table and stares
at the three hostages. He appears as if he's about to cry,
closes his eyes and rests his chin on the barrel of the
revolver while he recites instructions...
BUTCH
Shut yer' eyes, Cleve. Mack, you and
Lottie hold the boy tight. Shut yer'
eyes, too.
Phillip, awkwardly aware that he's going to witness an
execution, starts to cry out, then squelches himself.
Butch seems to be in another world now -- taken to another
place and time. A slight smile finds its way to his face,
then disappears.
LOTTIE
Please, mistah', ain't no use in it.
MACK
We'll give you ever'thing we got!
But Butch doesn't even hear the words. He slowly opens his
eyes, pulls his chin from the pistol barrel and points it
at Mack.
LOTTIE
Our Father, which are in heaven, Hallo
be thy name...
BUTCH
(to Lottie)
Shhh... shhh... shhh...
LOTTIE
... Thy Kingdom come, Lawd, thy will be
done... here on Earth as it is in Heaven.
(CONTINUED)
119.
184 CONTINUED: (2) 184
BUTCH
Shhh.. shhh...
LOTTIE
(to Mack/Cleve)
Say it wif' me....
Butch looks to Phillip in a strange way, sets the gun on
the floor between them, and crawls amongst the candy, gum
and wrappers until he finds the electrician's tape.
Phillip watches, not knowing what to do.
The revolver -- cocked, resting on the floor.
MACK, CLEVE & LOTTIE
Giv' us this day our daily bread and
forgiv' us, Lawd, our trespasses as we
forgiv' those who tresspass agin' us...
Butch rips tape from the roll and slaps a piece over each
of their mouths, silencing their prayers one by one.
Out of breath, he kneels down in front of them and stares
at the three while he reaches his hand behind him for the
.... pistol -- but it's not there...
Butch looks up to see...
Phillip -- teeth gritted, holding the pistol, pointing it
directly at Butch.
CLOSEUP - BUTCH
His expression is blank -- then a slight smile. For a
second it's as if none of this has happened, that Butch will
grasp Phillip in his arms...
A DEAFENING GUNBLAST turns his expression to blank.
Phillip, knocked to the floor by the revolver's kick,
recovers to his knees, shaking like a leaf.
The MAMBO RECORD comes to an END, but SCRATCHES ON AD
INFINITUM.
Butch falls back to his knees, still staring at Phillip.
He looks at his stomach, where a stain of brown-red
gushes through his T-shirt, and back to the boy.
BUTCH
(as if he hasn't
seen him in years)
Phillip?....
(CONTINUED)
120.
184 CONTINUED: (3) 184
Phillip, momentarily dazed, stares at the gun in his hand,
at Butch, the blood pouring from Butch's side, and the
shocked faces of Mack and his family. Then, in a flash, he
runs, pell-mell, out of the house.
185 EXT. HOUSE - DAY 185
Phillip blasts out the screen door and runs straight to the
well.
He drops the gun into the well, catches his breath and heads
for the road.
After a few yards he has a thought, runs back to the
station wagon, grabs the keys and throws them as far into
the adjacent field as he can. Then he resumes his race for
the road.
186 INT. HOUSE - DAY 186
Butch gropes to his feet, still in shock. He stumbles
toward the door, then stops, reaches in his pocket,
extracts Mack's Barlow knife, holds it up and walks toward
them, staring hard.
Mack, Cleve, Lottie -- Afraid they'll be killed after all.
Butch, surprisingly, meekly sets the knife down on the
coffee table...
BUTCH
Thanks for yer' hospitality.
And walks away.
187 EXT. HOUSE - DAY 187
Butch emerges and stumbles out.
BUTCH
(to the horizon)
Phillip?!...
No answer. He drags himself to the station wagon and, with
much effort, slides himself into the seat. No keys. He
opens the door, crawls out, leaving a trail of blood, looks
out to the road and starts to walk.
PHILLIP
runs down the road, looking back every so often to see if
Butch is following
(CONTINUED)
121.
187 CONTINUED: 187
BUTCH
makes his way onto the private dirt and starts walking back
toward the main road.
BUTCH
(yelling)
Phillip?!! I won't hurt ya', I swear!
PHILLIP
is running out of steam on the road ahead. He stops for a
blow and looks back.
HIS POV
A few hundred yards back, Butch struggles forward.
BACK TO SCENE
Phillip crawls through the ditch beside the road and
squeezes through a barb wire fence.
His costume hangs on a barb. He rips away from the fence
leaving a foot-long strand behind.
In the b.g. -- a pickup truck drives by.
188 INT. TRUCK - DAY 188
ARCH ANDREWS, 50, the owner of the Ranch, slows down when
he sees...
ARCH
What the hell?...
HIS POV - PHILLIP
clad in his white costume, running across a field toward
a grove of trees beside the creek.
BACK TO SCENE
Arch continues on down the road and passes...
Butch -- nearly in shock, stumbling down the road.
TRUCK
pulls into Mack's place, and Arch gets out, peers into the
station wagon, sees blood, grimaces and walks up to the
house. He notices a dripping trail of blood on the porch.
122.
189 INT. HOUSE - DAY 189
Arch enters the kitchen, sees no one and starts toward the
living room. The MAMBO continues to SCRATCH.
ARCH
Mack?... Lottie?...
Arch enters the living room and stops when he sees Mack and
family, still gagged and tied to the chairs.
190 EXT. ROAD - DAY 190
Butch, holding his side, the pain is worse as he stumbles
along.
He stops when he spots something -- a piece of white
costume on the fence. He crosses the ditch, steps through
the fence and walks in the same direction Phillip did.
BUTCH
That was a helluva' thing to do, Phillip.
You're a hero. Prolly' be in all the
papers tomorrow, how you saved those
folks. Truth is, I don't think I woulda'
killed 'em. I only killed two people in
my whole life. One hurt my mama and one
hurt you.
191 INT. LEAD PATROL CAR - DAY 191
Adler listens in on the shortwave.
KAISER (V.O.)
A town called Happy, over in Swisher
County.
RED
(to Jones)
How far?
JONES
Half-hour tops.
RED
(to Adler)
Get on the radio and tell whoever gets
there first to play it nice and easy.
Sally gives him a look.
KAISER (V.O.)
They've got the boy's mother flyin' in
on a private. You want her on standby?
(CONTINUED)
123.
191 CONTINUED: 191
RED
Jeezus, who did that?
ADLER
Guvner, I assume.
SALLY
Not a bad idea.
RED
Go ahead and chopper her in.
After a moment of silence, Sally turns to Red.
SALLY
I didn't mean to pry last night.
RED
Yes, ya did.
SALLY
Look, Red, it was 20 years ago.
RED
Funny thing. When the judge sent him
away the kid stared at me. Like he knew.
Not hard or mad like you'd expect. It
was... It was like he was forgiving me.
SALLY
Forgiving you for what?! For looking
at the facts and doing what you
thought was right?
RED
Naw. For what's gonna happen today.
192 EXT. FIELD - DAY 192
Butch follows Phillip's path through the field.
BUTCH
What say we talk this over? Settle
things man to man. Then we can be on
our way. I'll even let you drive. Knock
that right off yer' list. How'd that be?
PHILLIP
finally arrives at the creek, looking over his shoulder all
the way. He looks at the water -- deep and running swift.
Where to go? He decides and heads for the nearest tree --
a big oak, and shimmies up to a branch ten feet or so above
the ground.
124.
193 INT./EXT. LOCAL BLACK AND WHITE - DAY 193
A country cop answering the report, drives slowly down the
road, his pistol drawn and held upright in one hand. He
pulls into Mack's driveway and parks. Arch walks out of
the house to greet him.
ARCH
That's his car. Took off on foot. He's
got a pistol. Mack says it looks like a
.38.
194 EXT. FIELD - DAY 194
Butch stops to rest. Something catches his eye.
HIS POV
A white figure moves slightly in the boughs of an oak tree.
Phillip tries to climb higher but can't reach the next limb.
BACK TO SCENE
Butch walks underneath the tree without even looking at
Phillip. He sits down to rest.
BUTCH
Alaska, Phillip. Wild and wooley. Man
against nature. Me personally, I like
them odds.
(beat)
Did I tell you my daddy lives there?
He's the one that sent the picture
postcard. Listen here to what he says
about it...
Butch pulls the postcard from his back pocket and reads...
BUTCH
(reading)
'Dear Robert'... that's my real name,
Phillip. Robert. Jus' like old Bob the
family man. 'Dear Robert, I just wanted
to tell you that me leaving has nothing
to do with you.'
Phillip, still afraid, can't help but listen as Butch
suffers through his memories.
BUTCH
(reading)
'Alaska is a beautiful place. Colder
than hell most all the time.
(MORE)
125.
194 CONTINUED: 194
BUTCH (CONT'D)
Someday you can come and visit and we'll
maybe get to know each other better.'
Short and sweet. That's the old man's
style. 'Cold all the time' -- like that's
a big sellin' point.
He laughs to himself.
BUTCH
He useta' pat me on the head and tell
folks 'that it's some that can live life
without askin' about it and it's others
has to know why, and this boy here is
one of the latters.'
(beat)
That's why I wanted to go up there. To
visit the old man, I guess. Prolly'
punch him one first, but then maybe we'd
end up bein' friends, sit down, have a
beer, talk things over....
Butch groans. He pulls his hand from his side. Blood is
oozing all over the place. He returns the postcard to
his pocket.
BUTCH
We'll jus' rest awhile. Then you
can make up yer' mind. How's that?
Phillip, still clinging to the tree, can't help but feel
compassion for his friend.
195 EXT. MACK'S HOUSE - DAY 195
A dozen Highway Patrol cars now sit in the driveway. The
Fed in charge, AGENT HENDRICKS, assigns different officers
to secure the area in an incredibly organized fashion.
Mack, Lottie, Cleve and Arch watch from the porch.
196 EXT. CREEKSIDE - DAY 196
Butch's eyes are closed. A small puddle of blood drips
and becomes a rivulet running down into the creek.
Phillip, still in the tree, still watching, can't bear it
any longer. He slowly climbs down and drops next to Butch,
who opens his eyes to the boy and smiles.
BUTCH
One thing's for sure now -- I definitely
believe in ghosts.
(beat)
Never been shot before.
(CONTINUED)
126.
196 CONTINUED: 196
PHILLIP
I'm sorry.
BUTCH
I know ya' are. Truth is, if it had to
happen, I'm glad it was you. As opposed
to someone I don't know, I mean. All
things considered, I feel pretty good,
though. Could use a beer, though.
PHILLIP
What's beer taste like?
BUTCH
Oh, it's about the best thing there is.
You'd better put that on the list.
Phillip's eye catches something. He stands up fearfully...
HIS POV - TWO MORE PATROL CARS
lights spinning, rushing down the road, kicking up dust.
197 INT./EXT. RED'S PATROL CAR - DAY 197
Sally watches Red. When the car comes to a stop, she
reaches out and touches his arm.
SALLY
I think our chances of this thing ending
peacefully are good.
He smiles a lonesome smile, opens the door and exits.
198 EXT. CREEKSIDE - DAY 198
Phillip kneels back down to Butch.
PHILLIP
You better run.
BUTCH
Naw, Phillip, I need me a time machine
with a loud radio to take me where I'm
goin'. Walkin's for squares.
199 EXT. MACK'S HOUSE - DAY 199
Red exits his patrol car, followed by Sally. Agent
Hendricks walks up.
HENDRICKS
Garnett, I'm Tom Hendricks, F.B.I., out
of the Amarillo office. I understand you
have one of our men with you?
(CONTINUED)
127.
199 CONTINUED: 199
RED
Yeah. You got the area quadroned off?
HENDRICKS
Water tight. Like a frog's pussy.
(notices Sally)
Sorry, ma'am.
SALLY
No doubt an observation based on personal
experience.
Red can't help but smile.
RED
You got him spotted?
HENDRICKS
By the creek, half-mile down the road.
I spaced officers in a circle around them
100 yards or so away.
RED
You got any problem with me handling this
one?
HENDRICKS
What say we both handle it?
Red sighs.
RED
Let's head on down there. Bradley, gimme'
a megaphone.
HENDRICKS
One other thing, Chief. Haynes is wounded.
The boy gut-shot him.
RED
Yer' shittin' me.
200 EXT. CREEKSIDE - DAY 200
Phillip scoops a handful of water and brings it to Butch,
who opens his mouth and drinks, A megaphoned voice
interrupts...
RED (V.O.)
(through megaphone)
Butch, this is Red Garnett of the
Texas State Police.
A thin, knowing smile crosses Butch's lips.
(CONTINUED)
128.
200 CONTINUED: 200
RED (V.O.)
I know yer' hurt. We've got damn near
100 armed men here. Take a look around
and you'll see I'm shootin' ya' straight.
BUTCH
(yelling back)
All this for me. I'm touched, but I'm
afraid ya'll gonna' have to back it up a
step or two. I'm headed to Mexico.
(to Phillip)
Lyin' to 'em, of course.
201 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 201
Red leans against a patrol car, accompanied closely by Adler,
Sally and Hendricks.
RED
(into megaphone)
Hate to tell ya', Butch, but yer' headed
the wrong direction. Tell ya' what.
You let the boy go and we'll talk about
it. Discuss it over a cold beer.
202 EXT. CREEKSIDE - DAY 202
BUTCH
(to Phillip)
Beer. What'd I tell ya'.
(to Red)
Appreciate the offer, Cap'n, but ya'
know I can't do that. If you and yer'
pals back outta' here, I'll drop the boy
at the border.
(beat)
If you don't I'll shoot him in the
head. I mean it!
Phillip, betrayed beyond comprehension, stares at Butch.
BUTCH
(to Phillip)
Don't look at me like that. I don't
even have a gun. What did ya' do with
the pistola' anyway?
PHILLIP
Threw it in the well.
BUTCH
Good thinkin'.
129.
203 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 203
ADLER
Ya' think he means it?
Red mulls it over, replaces his old chaw with a fresh one
and looks to Sally.
RED
What do you think?
SALLY
Based on what's happened the past two
days I don't think he would.
RED
One thing's for sure. If he gets outta'
here with the boy, we're right back to
where we started.
BRADLEY
If he kills the boy he'll get the chair.
ADLER
Shit, he'll get the chair anyway. He's
killed two in two days.
SALLY
We don't know that he pulled the trigger
on either of the innocent victims.
ADLER
Well he wasn't at home in his Strat-O-
Lounger. 'Sides, who killed Pugh?
Casper?
RED
All right, both of you, that's enough!
From the trail of blood I got a feelin'
it ain't gonna' make any difference.
Let's jus' concentrate on gettin' the
boy out for now.
Bobby Lee approaches with a leather case, bypasses Red and
goes straight to Hendricks.
BOBBY LEE
Where ya' want me, sir?
RED
Can you shoot off a hood?
Bobby Lee nods.
In the b.g., a HELICOPTER circles, preparing to land.
(CONTINUED)
130.
203 CONTINUED: 203
ADLER
That'd be the boy's mother.
RED
Bring her on over.
204 EXT. CREEKSIDE - DAY 204
Butch and Phillip watch the helicopter land.
BUTCH
See, Phillip, dreams do come true.
There's yer' rocketship.
PHILLIP
Think I'll get to ride it?
BUTCH
Today's the day.
RED (V.O.)
(megaphoned)
Butch, we got the boy's Mama here.
She wants to say something.
Phillip is visibly stunned by the news. He crawls up to
the crest of the creekside and squints, looking for his
mom.
BUTCH
What's wrong, Phillip?
PHILLIP
It's my mama.
Phillip still cranes his neck to see.
BUTCH
Now that ya' got yerself a ghost suit,
do ya' think she'll let ya' trick r'
treat?
PHILLIP
(better than none)
I got to do one house.
Butch smiles. He has an idea.
BUTCH
Put yer' mask back on.
205 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 205
Bobby Lee carefully unsnaps the latches on his leather case
and opens it on the hood of the patrol car.
(CONTINUED)
131.
205 CONTINUED: 205
Inside is... a high-powered military rifle in three parts.
Hands unzip a velvetine bag and pull out a high-powered
scope.
Bobby Lee holds the lens of the scope to his mouth, blows a
breath on it and wipes it clean with a piece of clean
cloth. He feels eyes and turns to see...
Sally, watching him at work.
Bobby Lee smiles at her, cocksure. His dark role in this
manhunt is now perfectly clear.
Sally turns her head, disgusted.
Gladys Perry, frazzled, somewhat in shock, is ushered
forward. She's handed the MEGAPHONE. She fumbles with it,
pushes the button. It SQUAWKS LOUDLY.
RED
Jus' push the button and talk normal.
It SQUAWKS again.
RED
Here, I'll hold the damn thing.
You jus' talk.
GLADYS
(into megaphone)
Hullo... Hullo. Please, sir, he's my
only son. I'll give you money, whatever
I can. Please, I want to take my boy
home! I want to...
The MEGAPHONE SQUALKS one final dying time and SHORTS OUT.
Red hands it to Bradley, who immediately sets it on the
trunk and starts taking it apart.
RED
(to Gladys)
Yer' doin' fine. We'll get another one.
BRADLEY
I think yer' tobacco spit shorted it
out, Red.
206 EXT. CREEKSIDE - DAY 206
Phillip wears the mask. Butch dusts him off and smiles.
BUTCH
You ready to go home?
(CONTINUED)
132.
206 CONTINUED: 206
PHILLIP
(very sure)
Yeahsir.
BUTCH
(yells)
Hey, Cap'n, you got any candy?
INTERCUT BACK and FORTH BETWEEN Butch and:
RED
BRADLEY
(re: megaphone)
This one's shot.
RED
Well, find another one!
Red sighs and cups his hands around his mouth.
RED
(yells)
What?!
BUTCH
(yells)
Candy! Halloween candy! Popcorn balls,
caramel apples, gum, shit like that?!
RED
(yells)
You hungry?
BUTCH
(yells)
You find me some candy and I'll
deliver up a ghost.
RED
(to Adler)
You heard him.
207 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 207
Red nods to Adler who starts to gather sticks of gum,
mints, anything from the surrounding officers.
BRADLEY
Don't have another megaphone, Chief.
Red just shakes his head and sighs. Bobby Lee leans on
the hood of the car and places one eye behind the scope of
his rifle.
(CONTINUED)
133.
207 CONTINUED: 207
RED
You all set?
BOBBY LEE
You say when, I'll say dead.
Red glares at Bobby Lee for an extended moment.
RED
(yells; to Butch)
You got yer'self a deal. Candy's waitin'.
208 EXT. CREEKSIDE - DAY 208
BUTCH
(yells)
One more thing. His old lady has to
swear to take him trick r 'treatin'
every year.
Phillip strains to look for his mom. He's upset, ready to
leave.
BUTCH
Gimme' yer' list, Phillip.
PHILLIP
Butch?...
BUTCH
Gimme that list.
Phillip pulls it out. Butch snatches it and reads it to
himself, laughing. He's on a death roll of sorts, between
losing blood and being in an impossible situation he almost
seems to be enjoying the macabre scenario as it unfolds.
Phillip, on the other hand, is beginning to sob.
BUTCH
(yells)
And she's gotta promise to take him to
the fair for rollercoasters and cotton
candy whenever he wants... or at least
once a year...
PHILLIP
I wanna' go home!...
BUTCH
(checks list; yells)
And when he gets older he gets to drink
beer...
(CONTINUED)
134.
208 CONTINUED: 208
PHILLIP
I don't need beer!...
BUTCH
(to Phillip)
Well it's on yer' list.
(yells to Red)
And to go out on dates with girls!
(to Phillip)
Not on the list, but you'll thank me
later for that little addition.
(checks list)
Done that, got to drive, gonna' ride that
rocketship. That's about it.
(yells; to Red)
She's gotta' promise or I won't let him
go!
PHILLIP
I wanna' go home, Butch. My mama's not
bad! She gives me those things.
BUTCH
Don't kid a kidder, Phillip.
209 EXT. ROADSIDE -DAY 209
Red, exasperated, he can't believe how weird this has
gotten.
RED
(yells)
It's a deal!
BUTCH
(yells)
Make her say it!
Red looks to Gladys as if to say, "go ahead". She seems
reluctant. Red's frustration is showing.
210 EXT. CREEKSIDE - DAY 210
Phillip is near tears.
He rises and starts to move for the field, but Butch grabs
him with one arm, pulls him close and holds him like he's
his own child.
PHILLIP
I jus' wanna' go home.
BUTCH
(sincere)
Know jus' how ya' feel, Phillip.
135.
211 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 211
GLADYS
(to Red)
Phillip knows those things are against
our beliefs.
RED
(to Gladys)
What kinda' foolishness is that?
(yells)
She promises!
BUTCH
(yells)
Make her say it!
Red gives her a look that says, "Say it or deal with me".
GLADYS
(yells)
I promise!
212 EXT. CREEKSIDE - DAY 212
BUTCH
(to Phillip)
Can we trust her?
PHILLIP
She's a real good mama.
Butch reaches into his pocket, extracts the remaining wad
of stolen bills, unzips the Casper outfit, stuffs them
into the costume and rezips.
BUTCH
(to Phillip)
When you get home, hide this. If
she's lyin' you can buy yer' own damn
beer.
Phillip quiets for a moment and stares at Butch.
PHILLIP
Yer' not bad, are you, Butch?
BUTCH
Yeah.
(beat)
Now, Buzz, listen here. I want ya' to
step out there real slow, keepin' yer'
paws in the air. Then strut right over
to them cops and yell 'trick r' treat.'
Got it?
(CONTINUED)
136.
212 CONTINUED: 212
PHILLIP
What are you gonna' do?
BUTCH
Somethin'll come to mind.
Butch sticks out his hand. Phillip shakes it, afraid.
BUTCH
'Bye, Phillip. It's been one helluva'
ride.
Butch nods and smiles.
BUTCH
(yells)
All right, Cap'n. Make way for Casper
the friendly ghost. The friendliest
ghost I know.
Butch nudges Phillip and the boy starts toward the field.
213 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 213
Adler, looking through binoculars, can't help but smile.
RED
Gimme' them things.
Adler hands over the binoculars. Red takes a look.
HIS POV - PHILLIP
nee Casper, walking in his full whitehood, arms reaching
for the sky.
214 EXT. FIELD - DAY 214
Phillip reaches level ground and for the first time sees
the full strength of the amassed police forces -- at least
20 cars, swirling lights, guns everywhere, pointing at him.
215 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 215
Red watches.
RED
(yells)
Come on. Keep walkin'!
HIS POV - THROUGH BINOCS
Phillip stops walking and stands perfectly still.
(CONTINUED)
137.
215 CONTINUED: 215
BACK TO SCENE
Red lowers his binocs.
RED
(to himself)
Why the hell's he stoppin'?
(to Gladys;
direct)
Call for yer' boy to come!
Gladys, near shock, AD LIBS commands to Phillip. "Come on
honey," "Phillip, keep walking," that kind of thing.
(NOTE: Her commands become more and more shrieking and
frantic and continue throughout, giving rise to even more
confusion than is already present.)
216 EXT. FIELD - DAY 216
Phillip turns back and sees ...
Butch -- He tries to get up in an attempt to make a run for
it, but his strength is gone. He collapses.
Phillip, standing still, with his mother's shrieks filling
the air behind him, watches Butch for a second then runs
back toward him.
217 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 217
Red sighs and lowers the binocs.
218 EXT. CREEKSIDE - DAY 218
Phillip stands before a struggling Butch.
BUTCH
Personally I think we negotiated a pretty
fair deal, but if there's somethin' else
you want...
PHILLIP
(disbelief)
Do they want to shoot you?
Butch starts to lie to the boy but can't.
219 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 219
A finger strokes the trigger of a high-powered rifle.
Bobby Lee -- Smiling, ready, waiting.
Red shrugs and wipes his brow.
(CONTINUED)
138.
219 CONTINUED: 219
HENDRICKS
He thought better of releasin' the hostage.
SALLY
It doesn't necessarily mean that.
RED
(to Bobby Lee)
Stay on ready.
220 EXT. CREEKSIDE - DAY 220
Phillip holds his hand out and helps Butch get up. Butch
stands, dusts himself off, grabs the boy's hand and to-
gether they walk toward the field.
221 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 221
Red, through the binoculars.
RED
I seen it all now.
222 EXT. FIELD - DAY 222
Butch and Phillip, hand in hand, walking across the field.
223 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 223
Red scratches his head.
HENDRICKS
What's he up to?
RED
Hell if I know.
SALLY
He's giving himself up.
HENDRICKS
Keep in mind -- he still has the gun.
RED
(yells; to
Butch)
Butch! Stop and let the boy go! Put
yer' hands up and let the boy go!!!
(NOTE: AD LIB instructions from Red continue as well.)
139.
224 EXT. FIELD - DAY 224
With all the yelling, it's hard to make out what's being
said. Butch and Phillip continue to walk and talk.
BUTCH
So I guess that's it for Alaska, Phillip.
225 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 225
RED
Stop and put your hands on your head!
GLADYS
Run, Phillip! Come here, Phillip!
SALLY
(to herself)
Come on, come on...
HENDRICKS
(a warning)
Chief, we've got an armed killer and an
innocent boy out there.
RED
(to Bobby Lee)
You clean?
BOBBY LEE
As a whistle.
RED
Keep him locked down. Don't squeeze til'
I say 'when.'
Red holds Bobby Lee's eyes until the young Fed nods. Then
Red unstraps his holster and moves between the cars.
HENDRICKS
Where the hell you going?
But Red's not listening, just walking, long and tall, into
the field.
EXT. FIELD - DAY
Butch and Phillip continue to walk, Butch holding Phillip's
hand. When Butch spots Red approaching he slows and then
stops.
Red shows his palms and keeps walking toward them. When
he gets within 25 feet he stops.
RED
I'm unarmed. Toss your gun on the
ground.
(CONTINUED)
140.
225 CONTINUED: 225
Butch smiles.
BUTCH
If I had a pistola I'd be headed the
other direction. My partner here got rid
of the evidence.
(beat)
Do I know you, friend?
RED
No... not really.
BUTCH
Hmm. Well, look I wanna' talk to the boy
and then we'll take care of bidness. How's
that? Only take a second.
Red nods then looks over his shoulder at the patrol cars
lined up like a wagon train, guns aimed, Bobby Lee peering
through the scope of his rifle.
226 NEW ANGLE 226
Butch and Phillip.
BUTCH
I wanna' give ya' somethin'.
227 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 227
HENDRICKS
He's stopped.
ADLER
He's gonna make a run for it.
SALLY
Give it a second!
HENDRICKS
(to Bobby Lee)
Hold him!
SALLY
(yells)
Let the boy go, Butch!
HENDRICKS
(to Bobby Lee)
If he makes a move...
141.
228 EXT. FIELD - DAY 228
Butch kneels down beside Phillip. He reaches slowly, pain-
fully for his back pocket.
BUTCH
Mebe' someday you'll get to go...
229 EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY 229
Hendricks looks through the binocs.
HENDRICKS
He's goin' for his weapon!
THROUGH BINOCULARS
Butch reaches into his back pocket...
IN FIELD
Red squints to make out what Butch's reaching for.
HIS POV
Butch smiles as he retrieves the POSTCARD from his pocket.
BACK TO SCENE
A look of concern crosses Red's lips...
ROADSIDE
Sally realizes it's not a gun that Butch is reaching for.
SALLY
Noooooo...!!!!
FINGER ON TRIGGER
squeezes -- An EXPLOSION followed by a RINGING ECHO.
IN FIELD
Butch's chest explodes when the bullet hits him. He rocks
backwards, still on his knees... and looks at Phillip in
amazement.
Phillip screams, grabs Butch and holds him up.
THROUGH CROSSHAIRS OF GUN
Phillip is obscuring a second shot at Butch.
BUTCH
tastes blood and sighs.
(CONTINUED)
142.
229 CONTINUED: 229
BUTCH
Damn, Buzz, shot twice in the same day.
He collapses and falls into Phillip's arms. Phillip backs
away two steps and falls to his knees. Butch wavers for a
second then topples on his back.
Phillip moans, sobs, as he watches Butch, the GUNSHOT still
ECHOING.
AT ROADSIDE
Gladys runs from behind the car, followed by a host of
officers.
HENDRICKS
Keep everybody back!
Bobby Lee stands, lowers his rifle disengages and smiles at
Hendricks.
BOBBY LEE
No need to worry. He can't hurt nobody
now.
IN FIELD
Red stands frozen, staring, in another world. An OFFICER
trots up to Butch and does a careful ground frisk.
OFFICER
(calls back)
No weapon, Chief!
Red "comes to," turns and walks toward the...
ROADSIDE
Red walks up to Bobby Lee, stops and stares at the grinning
marksman. After a beat, Red turns then nearly jumps out of
shoes with a sudden right cross that floors the younger man.
Red starts to jump in for more but Hendricks, stunned, jumps
in, grabs Red and, joined by four other Officers, holds the
older man back. Shouting, i.e. "Hey, hey, Red, whoa, whoa!"
Red settles a bit. Hendricks turns to Bobby Lee who rises
to one knee and wipes at a bloody lip, and then to Red who
is still breathing hard.
HENDRICKS
What the hell was that all about?!
RED
I didn't say 'when.'
(CONTINUED)
143.
229 CONTINUED: (2) 229
Red turns and walks away. Hendricks throws his hat to the
ground, kicks it and follows Red with his eyes...
HENDRICKS
(to no one/everyone)
Goddammit!!
Adler catches up to Red. He stares at his old friend and
boss as they walk along.
ADLER
I thought he had a gun, too, Red. There
was just no way of knowin'.
Red doesn't even look at Adler, just keeps walking. Adler
stops, his eyes following Red.
Sally, nearby, watches Red walk away.
PHILLIP
is helped to his feet by his mother. She holds him dearly
to her chest. He hugs back just as hard, his blood-stained
Casper outfit staining her blouse. She unzips the costume
and dollar bills fly all around. She starts to lead
Phillip off but he won't leave until...
He pulls the postcard from Butch's hand.
CLOSEUP - PHILLIP
Staring down at Butch.
CLOSEUP - BUTCH
His eyes flutter a bit with recognition.
AT PATROL CAR
Red leans against the car. After a few seconds Sally walks
up and finds a spot a few feet down from him where she, too,
leans against the car. After a few more seconds.
SALLY
You did everything you could. You know
that.
Red just stares straight ahead.
RED
I don't know nuthin'. Not a damn thing.
(CONTINUED)
144.
229 CONTINUED: (3) 229
Red reaches into his pocket, pulls out his tobacco and
stuffs a chunk into his mouth.
IN FIELD - CLOSEUP - BUTCH
He licks his lips as the MUFFLED VOICES CONTINUE around
him. He squints hard and sees:
HELICOPTER
as it lifts off and speeds away. As it wipes the sun...
CLOSEUP - BUTCH
A slight smile crosses his dying face as he squints to
see Phillip's flight.
CLOSEUP - PHILLIP
Nose pressed against the glass bubble.
BUTCH
His eyes don't close, still squinted but frozen.
CLOSEUP - EYES
We realize now, are lifeless.
BUZZARD
continues its flight past the sun.
SUN
flares, SENDING the SCREEN TO:
MILKY WHITE IMAGE
that opened the film.
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END
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