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EXT. WINDMILL -- DAY
A massive, wooden WINDMILL, raised off the ground on a 7' center
post. Ichabod and Masbath walk to it.
INT. WINDMILL -- DAY
Ichabod and Young Masbath enter via a ladder from the underbelly.
Gears and counter wheels turn millstones. A few men work in the
grain powder filled air.
Ichabod leads the way to a staircase, up twists and turns.
YOUNG MASBATHM
Where are we going?
ICHABOD
Up.
EXT. WINDMILL ROOF -- DAY
Ichabod and Young Masbath climb out a door to the roof. The rotors
spin nearby. Ichabod searches the countryside.
Below, MANY MEN are ride up the long straight road.
ICHABOD
What is it?
YOUNG MASBATH
It's payment day. Loan monies are given to Baltus the last day each
month. Almost everyone borrows... for tools or to hire workers.
Ichabod sits, takes a bowl from his bag and gives it to Masbath,
then produces a bottle of water... fills the bowl.
ICHABOD
(points)
Out there. What do you see?
YOUNG MASBATH
The Western Woods.
ICHABOD
Look again.
A plume of smoke rises from woods, far.
YOUNG MASBATH
Smoke. Chimney smoke.
Ichabod holds a piece of straw in his mouth, rubs the point of
a sewing needle against a small BLACK ROCK.
ICHABOD
Are you familiar with magnets?
YOUNG MASBATH
What kind of nuts?
ICHABOD
Not for eating, I assure you. Watch here.
Ichabod shows the magnet grab the needle. Young Masbath is amazed,
reaching for it. Ichabod watches him play with it.
YOUNG MASBATH
It's spectacular.
ICHABOD
(smiles, pause)
Yes... I suppose it is. Keep it.
YOUNG MASBATH
No, I couldn't...
ICHABOD
I have others. All I need is this.
Ichabod takes the needle, poking its butt end into the tip of the
straw. Young Masbath studies the rock, pockets it.
YOUNG MASBATH
Thank you.
ICHABOD
(nods, almost shy)
Now, hold the bowl steady. Back to business.
Young Masbath lifts the bowl. Ichabod drops the in needle/straw,
which floats and turns compass-like.
ICHABOD
If the Western Woods are truly the Devil's Glen, we will see for
ourselves.
YOUNG MASBATH
(uneasy)
Father said witches live there.
ICHABOD
Witches do not exist. However...
Ichabod uses a knife to notch the bowl lip where the needle points,
then surveys the smoke, making a second notch.
ICHABOD
Not long ago, I would have said the same for Headless Horseman.
KATRINA (o.s.)
Constable... !
Katrina's on horseback below, unhappy.
KATRINA
I need to speak with you. Alone.
EXT. VAN TASSEL GREAT LAWN -- DAY
Ichabod and Katrina lead their horses. A heated argument.
KATRINA
Why would you do such a thing?
ICHABOD
No stone may be left unturned. it may appear harsh...
KATRINA
I have misjudged you I think. I did not imagine you were so cruel.
ICHABOD
You are not regarding it in full. The Widow Windsor had been run
through by a sword. I followed the bloodless wound, a wound whose
path I could not comprehend till I had seen the Horseman with my
own eyes.
KATRINA
What are you on about?
ICHABOD
The child she carried was eight months grown at least... near to
birthing. The sword had pierced its tiny heart exactly.
KATRINA
Must I hear this?
ICHABOD
There was no blind stabbing. This singular thrust found its target
omnipotently, as if the Horseman made certain the unborn child died
with its mother.
KATRINA
And this gives worth to butchery?
ICHABOD
It was not butchery.
KATRINA
What is it then? Scientific method? How can any of this matter in
the slightest?
ICHABOD
I have no solution for its meaning yet, but I could not just ignore
it.
KATRINA
Take a lesson from Young Masbath's desires, Ichabod Crane. He follows
with you to avenge his father's death. That I understand. But, what
do you want?
ICHABOD
To avenge his father, and the others.
KATRINA
But, why? Tell me why.
Ichabod struggles for a reply.
KATRINA
You falter with your answer because you strive without putting the
whole of your heart into it. Can't you see? You'll bring dignity
to the dead even if you have to chop them into little pieces to
do it.
ICHABOD
(fed up, growing anger)
If it had been surgery on a living person, done to save that person's
life, you would not question it. Not for a moment. So, let me be
the first to tell you, dear girl... on the other side of these sheltering
mountains, a whole world has advanced beyond such plebeian thinking
as yours. And someday, no matter how much you fear it, that world
will come to roust Sleepy Hollow out of its slumber.
Katrina storms away. Ichabod's already regretting.
EXT. BELLTOWER FIELD -- DAY
Ichabod and Young Masbath ride to the Western Woods, horses loaded
for expedition. At the Belltower remnants, Ichabod slows, looking
to the wreckage.
At forest's edge, Young Masbath waits.
Ichabod circles the tower. With a sigh, he rides to join Young
Masbath. They head into the woods.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS -- DAY
Dark, dense and creepy. Ichabod and Young Masbath move through.
Young Masbath halts his horse and looks around.
ICHABOD
What is it?
YOUNG MASBATH
Listen.
ICHABOD
(listens, looks)
I hear nothing.
YOUNG MASBATH
No crickets or cicadas calling. No bird songs.
Stark quiet. Ichabod notes this unhappily.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS -- LATER DAY
Ichabod's hand drops the needle/straw in the water bowl. The needle
spins. The bowl is turned to match notches.
Ichabod points the way to Young Masbath.
ELSEWHERE, SOMEONE WATCHES: A MOVING P.O.V, WATCHES them as they
ride. FOLLOWS.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS, FURTHER ON -- LATER DAY
Ichabod and Masbath reach a hill crest. They stop, uneasy. Below:
a CAVE with a rock archway. An ill-fitting door covers the mouth.
The chimney spews smoke.
ICHABOD
We have apparently arrived.
EXT. CAVE HOME -- DAY
The horses are tied to a tree. Ichabod walks to the cave door.
Unsure, he hesitantly knocks.
INT. CAVE HOME -- DAY
Ichabod and Young Masbath step in.
Walls are hung with skins and skeletons, dry flowers and reed grass
in patterns. An OLD CRONE sits facing away.
The old Crone, a mountain woman with matted hair and grey features,
sits disinterested. Ichabod edges closer.
ICHABOD
Pardon. You did not answer when I knocked. Are we intruding?
OLD CRONE
You are from the Hollow?
ICHABOD
In a way, yes.
Ichabod looks at tables of gourd bowls of dead insects and acorns.
Knifes, scissors, yellow bones. He takes the Lenape's piece of reed
grass from his pocket.
ICHABOD
The Lenape who lived in these woods ... do you know him? The Redman?
(uncomfortable wait)
I should tell you... he has been murdered.
OLD CRONE
Leave me. You are not welcome here.
The old Crone places something on a table beside her -- a dead
cardinal, bright red.
Ichabod is afraid, backing away, but Young Masbath takes the woven
piece and steps to the Crone.
YOUNG MASBATH
Were you a friend to the Indian? (waits)
You should have this... if you were his friend.
Young Masbath puts the woven piece beside the cardinal. He walks
to join Ichabod in leaving.
OLD CRONE
You seek remedy against the Horseman?
The Old Crone reaches to pick up the weaving. She stands, faces
them. Tall. Ichabod nods.
OLD CRONE
(to Young Masbath)
Go out and keep away, child.
(to Ichabod)
You stay. Follow with me.
The Old Crone takes a candle and walks, deep into the cave.
INT. CAVE HOME, LOWER CAVE -- DAY
The Old Crone comes through a passage in the wet walls. Ichabod
enters, scared, bent under low ceiling.
OLD CRONE
I hear him. He rides to the Hollow and back.
ICHABOD
The Horseman. Yes.
OLD CRONE
Sit.
Ichabod sits on crooked stool. The old Crone kneels with her back
to him, gathers straw in a pile on the floor.
ICHABOD
Can you help?
OLD CRONE
You want to see into the nether world... I can show you. Whatever
you see, do not move or speak. I will hold him.
She gathers bowls, putting grass and powder on the pile.
ICHABOD
What... what are you doing?
OLD CRONE
(turns, furious)
Close your mouth! Keep silent.
She takes two jars f rom a table, pours ashes on the pile from
one. She shakes the other roughly, takes the lid off and upends
it. A baby bat squirms on the floor, dazed.
The Old Crone holds the bat, using a knife to cut off its head.
-She soaks the straw with blood, SPEAKING IN TONGUES, guttural.
Using a wick, she lights the straw.
She grasps two METAL CUFFS with chains attached, slides these onto
her bony wrists, then bends to inhale smoke.
OLD CRONE
He comes now.
Ichabod would like to leave now.
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