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EXT. VAN TASSEL ESTATE --DAY
ICHABOD'S P.O.V.: a BELLTOWER stands tall, like a mast pole with
a crow's nest basket atop. There's a man in the basket and a huge
BELL.
Ichabod ponders this as he continues. Ahead on a hill: the grand
Van Tassel Manor House.
INT. VAN TASSEL MANOR HOUSE, SITTING ROOM --DAY
MANY CHILDREN, in a circle, taunt a BLINDFOLDED YOUNG WOMAN spun
round by the handsome, barrel-chested man, BROM VAN BRUNT. A few
YOUNG MEN and LADIES watch. Brom releases the woman. Everyone quiets
and avoids her searching hands.
BLINDFOLDED WOMAN
This is such a silly game.
BROM
Be a sport and stop complaining.
The woman moves to Brom's voice. He backs away, flanked by peers
GLENN and THEODORE. Children laugh.
Ichabod enters, clearing his throat. No one notices. The blindfolded
woman keeps grasping. One LITTLE GIRL sees Ichabod and goes to him,
finger to her lips.
LITTLE GIRL
Play along. You must.
She tugs him. Before Ichabod can protest, he is placed in the blindfolded
woman's grip.
BLINDFOLDED WOMAN
There, I have someone. Am I finished?
LITTLE GIRL
You have to tell who it is.
The woman touches Ichabod's face. He is uncomfortable, affected
by this caress. Brom watches jealously.
LITTLE GIRL
At least make a guess.
BLINDFOLDED WOMAN
I don't know. Is it Brom Bones?
BROM
Certainly not.
ICHABOD
Excuse me, Miss... (takes her hands)
They have a laugh at your expense.
She takes the kerchief off to reveal a stunning beauty: KATRINA
VAN TASSEL. Ichabod tries to compose himself.
KATRINA
Forgive me, I didn't know.
ICHABOD
I... I am looking for Baltus Van Tassel.
BROM
We haven;t heard your name yet, friend.
ICHABOD
Well, unless your name is Baltus, you should not worry over mine.
Brom grabs Ichabod's collar, pissed. Ichabod's baffled.
BROM
You need some manners.
KATRINA
Brom!
Brom looks at her, then reluctantly releases Ichabod.
MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
What is this, then... ?
BALTUS VAN TASSEL, 45, has entered, a working-class aristocrat.
LADY VAN TASSEL, 40, stands behind, a mix of home-spun wife and
well-kept lady.
BALTUS
Can I help you, sir?
Ichabod's relieved to have a proper focal point. Children gather
around Katrina and hide behind her.
ICHABOD
I have been sent from the city with a letter of introduction. I
am told you offer me room and board.
Ichabod hands over papers. Baltus reads, furrows his brow.
ICHABOD
If we could speak alone.
BALTUS (nods, looks to Katrina)
This is not a time for frivolity, Katrina, is it? Am I mistaken?
KATRINA
They're only children, father.
Baltus snorts, then exits with Ichabod. The others huddle to gossip,
except Katrina, who moves beside Lady Van Tassel to watch Ichabod
and Baltus walk down the hall.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, PARLOR -- DAY
DOCTOR LANCASTER, 50, dour and always sweaty, takes a seat by the
fire, joining Baltus and three other elders. A pretty servant, SARAH,
brings a pipe cradle while Lady Van Tassel sets down food. Ichabod
is standing.
BALTUS
That will be all, ladies.
(waits as they exit)
We are joined by Doctor Thomas Lancaster, Constable. And to his
left are, Clergyman Steenwyck and our able magistrate, Samuel Philipse,
both keeping order in their own ways.
PHILIPSE is youngest, eyes bloodshot, mug in hand and pipe in mouth.
CLERGYMAN STEENWYCK is formidably built, wearing a constant look
of disapproval.
BALTUS
I myself am in charge of financial matters and the regulation of
currency in our commonwealth. And, lastly, this fine fellow is James
Hardenbrook, our Notary.
HARDENBROOK is oldest, ancient, with one eye pale and blind.
ICHABOD
An honor, gentlemen. In time I will need every detail of the three
murderings you've had, but, for now, I ask only if you have any
theory at all as to who the killer might be?
DOCTOR LANCASTER
Excuse me?
ICHABOD
I say, is there any one person suspect in these acts?
DOCTOR LANCASTER
I was afraid of this.
Philipse shoots a look to Baltus. Angst amongst the elders.
PHILIPSE
Well, Constable... are you aware... to be honest, you are not what
we expected. We sent for the militia.
ICHABOD
The militia?
FATHER STEENWYCK
Why not tell us what you have heard? Hmm? How much have your superiors
bothered to tell you?
ICHABOD
All I know is three are slain, their heads found severed from their
bodies...
FATHER STEENWYCK
The heads were not found severed. The heads were not found at all.
Withered Hardenbrook leans forward, his voice cragged.
HARDENBROOK
Taken. Taken by the Headless Horseman. Taken back to hell.
ICHABOD
Pardon me?
BALTUS
You have not been well informed of our troubles, sir. If you would...
Baltus gestures for Ichabod to sit. Baltus lights his pipe.
BALTUS
The Horseman... he was a Hessian mercenary, sent to our shores by
German princes to help keep Americans under the thumb of England.
However, unlike his compatriots who came as muscle in trade for
currency, he came willingly; for love of carnage.
FLASHBACK -- AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD -- DAY
The HESSIAN HORSEMAN rides his black steed into a gory, close-quarters
clash, his cloaked uniform adorned with edged weapons. He cuts down
Americans left and right.
BALTUS (v.o.)
He was infamous for taking his horse, Daredevil, hard into battle...
chopping off heads at full gallop.
He dismounts, hoisting a battle axe. With sword and axe, he annihilates.
Blood gushes. Bones crack.
BALTUS (V. 0.)
Just to look on him made your blood run cold, for he had filed down
his teeth to rapiers... to add to the ferocity of his appearance.
The Horseman lets out a war cry. Jagged teeth. Grotesque.
FOREST BATTLEFIELD -- DAY
Winter. CANNONS can be HEARD BOOKING from afar. Daredevil lies
dead in red snow. FOLLOW FOOTPRINTS away...
BALTUS (v.o.)
He would not finally meet his end till the winter of seventy-nine,
when New York City was held by Henry Clinton and Washington occupied
West Point. It was between those two places, not far from here...
The Horseman flees, cloak flowing, chased by FIVE rag-tag REVOLUTIONARY
SOLDIERS. Ahead, a steep, rocky area prevents escape. Soldier one
aims a rifle and FIRES...
Blood explodes from the Horseman's arm as he runs. His sword falls
from his now functionless hand.
Soldier Two grabs the sword.
At the rocks, the Horseman faces the men. Another Rifleman raises
his rifle. The Horseman reaches over his shoulder to grasp a sheathed
knife, THROWS -
THOCK! The Rifleman jerks back, knife in his eye socket.
The Horseman readies an axe. The Revolutionaries move in with swords.
They battle, STEEL AGAINST STEEL. The Horseman fends off blows from
all sides.
Soldier Three lunges, stabs his blade deep into the Horseman's
side. The Horseman roars, brings his axe DOWN... BREAKS the sword
at the hilt...
An UPWARDS stroke sends Soldier Three head over heels in a fountain
of blood.
The Horseman staggers, howling, trying to pull the blade from his
ribs. The remaining soldiers close in.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SITTING ROOM -- NIGHT
Pipe smoke wafts from Philipse's mouth.
PHILIPSE
Cut off his head with his own sword. It's a legend told for twenty
years.
BALTUS
But, only recently has the Headless Hessian been seen prowling the
Hollow, in search of a head to suit his shoulders.
ICHABOD
Just a moment... (sits back, incredulous)
Are you saying it is he?
HARDENBROOK
(aggravated, loud)
When a goblin leaps from the nether world, others follow Poltergeists
of the air, water and earth follow and cheer his desecrations!
Hardenbrook BANGS his cane on a table. Baltus puts a calming hand
on senile Hardenbrook's shoulder.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
No one knows why he chose to now to climb out from his grave.
FATHER STEENWYCK
It is very clear why. Citizens here have long tried to hide sins
behind closed doors. Their failed faith has saturated the soil and
called forth one of Satan's own.
ICHABOD
Excuse me, gentlemen, but... who has seen this Horseman?
BALTUS
Many have.
ICHABOD
Then, name one person who has seen him with their own eyes.
A long wait. No reply from the elders. Ichabod rises.
ICHABOD
While I will do everything I can to find your assassin, I will look
for a man of flesh and blood. Not some goblin-demon from hell.
EXT. BELLTOWER FIELD -- EARLY EVENING
The Belltower is covered in defensive spikes. A man climbs down
a rope ladder. Below, many ARMED MEN gather. Everyone grim. Philipse
moves to the center, on horseback.
PHILIPSE
Gather round! Gather and quiet! The hour has come to choose for
this night. Each man's name is in this box and has been checked.
A box is handed up. Ichabod and Baltus arrive on foot at the back
of the mob. Ichabod looks...
At a nearby forest, men light TORCH POSTS in a line bordering the
forest edge for at least a half mile.
Philipse draws a folded paper from the box, holds it up.
PHILIPSE
May the Lord watch over him... (unfolds paper)
"Jonathan Masbath." Are you here?
JONATHAN (o.s.)
I am. I take my responsibility.
The crowd parts as JONATHAN MASBATH, a dirt-poor farmer with a
bow and quiver of arrows, moves forward. His son, YOUNG MASBATH
14, grips his arm.
YOUNG MASBATH
No, father. Wait... (up to Philipse)
He's already been up once. Why does he go again?
JONATHAN
It is a lottery, son. It just as easily might have been one of them.
YOUNG MASBATH
Then... I go with you.
JONATHAN
No. You obey my wishes. (looks to crowd)
Brom. Look after him, will you?
Brom steps up, nodding. Jonathan kisses his son's cheek, then heads
to the rope ladder. Men pat him on the back.
PHILIPSE
Someone leave him a horse.
Young Masbath watches his father go. Brom coaxes him away. At the
back of the crowd, Ichabod watches skeptically, looks to Young Masbath
as he and Brom pass.
ICHABOD
You worry for naught, little man. Nothing will harm him there. (looks
up, sotto)
It is problems here on the ground you people need begin to worry
about.
Ichabod watches Jonathan climb, very high above.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
Ichabod makes notations in a LEDGER BOOK.
KATRINA (v.o.)
You will dream.
Katrina strolls in, sits on the bed. Ichabod is nervous.
KATRINA
Did they tell? It is something in the air so that dreams come to
everyone. According to the elders, an Indian prophet held powwows
here before the land was taken, and spells cast then still linger
to this day.
ICHABOD
Do you often make a habit of sitting on strange men's beds?
KATRINA
You are horribly old-fashioned, aren't you?
ICHABOD
Feel free to form your own opinion. (facing his ledger)
Though it appears you already have.
KATRINA
Well, I intended to apologize for the behavior of my friend Brom
Van Brunt, but it seems I've made matters worse. (getting up to
go)
I'll leave you to your business.
ICHABOD
Excuse me... I should apologize. I, um... I.. have no great love
of...
KATRINA
Other people?
ICHABOD
Small talk.
KATRINA
It might have been more. Might have been positively grand talk.
Ichabod offers his chair, backing away. Seeing it is the only one,
he remains standing. Katrina sits.
KATRINA
it me, or are you this nervous around all women?
ICHABOD
Perhaps it is because your suitor's hands were recently very nearly
wrapped around my throat.
KATRINA
My suitor?
ICHABOD
The massive fellow... Brom. For someone you call "friend,"
he misplaces a good portion of jealousy.
KATRINA
He has proposed to me twice.
ICHABOD
Which may explain his temperament. To have asked twice means the
answer was "no" at least once.
Katrina looks down, discards this with a smile.
KATRINA
I've read a great deal about your New York City. Do be a dear and
tell me all about it. Sounds like an extraordinary place to live
a life.
ICHABOD
Extra ordinary, yes. But first, you tell me about the Headless Horseman.
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