| EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE FRONT PORCH -- MORNING
Baltus leads Ichabod to the porch.
BALTUS
Clergyman Steenwyck is calling a meeting. This time he is determined
to have you forced out, or worse.
ICHABOD
How did you hear this?
BALTUS
He came to me. He promised great violence. Said I should cast you
out for my own protection.
(troubled pause)
I must speak honestly. There is no reason to think he will not meet
with success.
Ichabod looks to barn, sees Masbath bringing the horses. The CHURCH
BELL is HEARD TOLLING far away.
BALTUS
That is the meeting bell already calling. with the murder of Killian
and Brom, no one sees any good from you. If... if you were to leave...
you might be saving your own life.
Ichabod studies Baltus, then offers his hand. They shake.
ICHABOD
I appreciate your concern. I thank you, sir.
Ichabod hurries off, across the lawn, exasperated. He runs. Masbath
runs to him. Ichabod takes Gunpowder and climbs up.
YOUNG MASBATH
(mounting his horse)
What now? Where is she?
ICHABOD
Things have become complicated. Katrina is at the mill. Ride ahead,
find her and bring her to meet me outside the church. Find her at
all costs. Quickly.
They ride, fast.
EXT. FOREST -- DAY
A conjuring pile of straw burns. Gloved hands unfold a paper filled
with clippings of human hair. The hair is sprinkled on the fire.
A cloaked FIGURE is kneeled at the pile. The figure turns to remove
A human SKULL from a cloth bag.
The skull is placed at center in the flames. It's teeth are sharp,
cut to points. The HORSEMAN'S SKULL.
EXT. CHURCH -- DAY
In the church yard refugee camp, food is prepared over fire. People
inhabit the tents.
INT. CHURCH, STEENWYCK'S QUARTERS -- MORNING
IN THE CHURCH: it's crowded with families. Pews filled with bedding
and belongings. Steenwyck comes to CLOSE the DOUBLE DOORS of his
quarters, turning, angry.
FATHER STEENWYCK
You are astonishing, Constable. Do you truly think your ridiculous
accusations frighten me?
Ichabod is doing nothing to hide his disdain.
ICHABOD
Only if I repeat them outside this room. And, I will if I must...
(points to doors)
Out there, for all to hear. Or... you may speak, as planned. But,
you tell them you feel compelled to move on to greener pastures.
FATHER STEENWYCK
No. You will not run me out. No one will believe a word of what
you say.
ICHABOD
Oh? Far as I can tell, a rumor does not travel alone for long here.
FATHER STEENWYCK
Are you a deist? Is that it? A free thinker who does not believe
in divinity.
ICHABOD
It is only important what you are. An adulterer...
FATHER STEENWYCK
I am the Lord's voice in this town.
ICHABOD
Wallowing in sin and lust...
FATHER STEENWYCK
They need guidance.
ICHABOD
Wallowing quite literally in blood.
FATHER STEENWYCK
(snapping, quaking)
Damn you, sir! God damn you to hell!
ICHABOD
He may. But, not soon enough for you, and not on your behalf.
Ichabod walks. Steenwyck is humiliated.
ICHABOD
You are so upset now... and yet, you seemed in such good spirits
last night.
FATHER STEENWYCK
You cannot do this. I am a man of God!
ICHABOD
Climb to the top of the tallest ladder you can find, Father. That
is the closest you ever come to God.
INT. CHURCH -- DAY
Pews are packed. Steenwyck enters, walks to the altar. EVERYONE
QUIETS. Steenwyck has composed himself, barely.
FATHER STEENWYCK
My friends... dear friends. Those of you still on your farms, I
thank you for coming.
He sees Ichabod near the back. THUNDER is HEARD OUTSIDE.
FATHER STEENWYCK
I ... I address unfortunate business.
(pause)
I am forced to take my leave from Sleepy Hollow. I will be moving
on to do the Lord's work elsewhere.
The GATHERERS MURMUR shock. Ichabod walks out.
EXT. THE LONG STRAIGHT ROAD -- DAY
Raining hard. Baltus and Lady Van Tassel ride.
BALTUS
Hurry along. The meeting has most certainly already begun. We do
not want Steenwyck as our enemy.
Lady Van Tassel trails. WOOD is HEARD SPLINTERING...
Just off the road, a tree falls...
The trunk catches Lady Van Tassel's horse on its rear flank.
The horse falls. Lady Van Tassel hits the dirt.
Baltus looks back, halting.
Lady Van Tassel looks up to Baltus in fear, then turns.
Behind her, the Headless Horseman trots from, the forest on Daredevil,
stops. Calm. He takes his axe in hand.
EXT. CHURCH -- DAY
Storming. The meeting is letting out. Near the churchyard gate,
Young Masbath rides with Katrina following on a horse cart. Ichabod
walks up as Katrina dismounts.
KATRINA
What is so urgent?
ICHABOD
Come with me.
Ichabod leads her to where they can talk away from others.
KATRINA
Why have I not seen your face for so long? You look much better.
She touches his face, but he takes her hand, places the loan agreements
there.
ICHABOD
Explain these. I found them secreted away in the sewing room.
Katrina's expression changes just so slightly to guilt.
ICHABOD
Why... why have I scrambled and run and clawed in all directions,
only to find you against me?
He stares at her. Katrina stares back, in a small way defeated.
She looks for an out, but there is none.
KATRINA
I have been reading your journal. I'm sorry. I found it too fascinating
to resist.
(pause, ashamed)
I rode to catch up with you at the Notary, out of curiosity. Before
I found you though, I overheard what you were said.
ICHABOD
It was you there?
KATRINA
When... when you spoke father's name along with accusations, I could
not believe it. I had to hide these... at least till I could confront
him myself.
ICHABOD
And, what did he say?
KATRINA
He did not do these things. If you knew him, you would realize...
ICHABOD
What did he say, Katrina?
KATRINA
I have not been able to face him yet.
ICHABOD
The loans give the land to your father. It does not matter survivors
are still on their farms. They could be thrown off... tomorrow...
a year from now.
KATRINA
Yes, I have seen that, and I told you why I hid them.
ICHABOD
What would you have me believe?
KATRINA
(tiring, angry)
If you think I am behind this, say it.
ICHABOD
The name Van Tassel is blackened. You share that name.
KATRINA
Call me a liar, then, and a murderess. Say it, out and out.
Many people are starting to notice the confrontation.
ICHABOD
Katrina...
KATRINA
Speak the words, Constable. What is stopping you? What has happened
to your ability to transcend sentimentality?
Emotions tear at him. Rain seems to pound down harder.
KATRINA
Oh, no. No. Please... don't dare stand looking as if you still care
for me, after all that you have said. If I were to confess, would
that ease your suffering? Would that make it easier for you to hate
me?!
A TORTURED CRY is HEARD O.S.
Baltus comes charging through the square on his horse.
BALTUS
The Horseman is coming!
He's barely hanging on. He stops, practically falling off, running
towards Katrina and Ichabod.
BALTUS
Save me...
KATRINA
Father?
BALTUS
He killed her...
Baltus grasps Katrina, fearful. HOOFBEATS are HEARD.
BALTUS
The Horseman has killed her.
Far behind, the Horseman rides to follow, axe held up. Instant
mayhem -- people scatter all directions, screaming.
Baltus runs headlong to the church.
KATRINA
Father!
Katrina runs after Baltus. Ichabod backs away, watching the Horseman
come, then heads to the church with Masbath.
Baltus pushes through the iron gate, into tent city, joining the
swarm of townsfolk pouring into the church.
The Horseman rides behind, closing the gap. men, women and children
run for cover all along the square.
Amidst the churchyard panic, Ichabod looks back...
The Horseman reaches the open gate and Daredevil suddenly rears
up, snorting, unwilling to enter.
The Horseman grabs Daredevil's reins, tries to move forward again.
Same result. Daredevil freaks out.
INT. CHURCH -- DAY
Baltus makes his way in, shoving. People are still clamoring in
through the doors.
Men pass rifles from stockpiles and climb onto pews at boarded
windows. Women herd children into a cellar.
Baltus searches for a hiding place. He looks across the church
to see Steenwyck closing the doors of his living quarters. Baltus
moves...
BALTUS
Steenwyck!
At the front doors, Katrina squeezes in with Ichabod and Young
Masbath just as people are forcing the doors closed. It's madness.
People outside begin pounding.
Katrina searches.
KATRINA
Father!
Ichabod goes to a window, looking out between boards.
EXT. CHURCH -- DAY
Across the yard, the Horseman gives his axe an underhand toss to
the ground inside the gate.
The AXE instantly BEGINS TO DEGRADE. DUST in the rain.
The Horseman rides, keeping outside the fence.
INT. CHURCH -- DAY
Ichabod comes away from the window, looking to panicked citizens.
He sees Katrina moving up the aisle...
She's heading towards Baltus, who slams against the door to Steenwyck's
room.
BALTUS
Damn you, Steenwyck! Help me! Let me in!
RIFLES BOOM LOUDLY as men at the windows begin firing.
|
