| EXT. CHURCH -- DAY
The Horseman circles, under fire.
Great clouds of gun smoke shoot from the church.
Men fire down from the belfry.
Parts of the Horseman and Daredevil splatter red into the rain
as slugs hit without effect.
AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CHURCH, the Horseman comes around, heading
to the town square.
INT. CHURCH -- DAY
Rifleman shout to each other, running to the opposite windows to
follow the Horseman.
Young Masbath grabs a rifle and leaps to join the brigade.
Baltus is still beating Steenwyck's door when a HUGE FARMER grips
Baltus angrily and throws him...
HUGE FARMER
You'll kill us all!
Baltus falls, knocking over pews. Katrina's nearby.
HUGE FARMER
You're the one the Horseman wants. Why should we die for you!?
KATRINA
NO!
The huge farmer picks Baltus up, dragging him and shoving Katrina
aside as she approaches.
Ichabod's pushing past people, trying to reach them.
EXT. CHURCH/TOWN SQUARE -- DAY
The Horseman brings Daredevil to a halt, yanking a large coil of
ROPE off a hitching post.
INT. CHURCH -- DAY
The huge farmer shoves Baltus to the floor again.
HUGE FARMER
Get out!
Others join the rage, pulling Baltus towards the front of the church,
shouting. Ichabod struggles to push them off.
ICHABOD
Stop this!
Ichabod gets to Baltus, side, trying to protect.
ICHABOD
The Horseman cannot enter! It does not matter who he wants, he cannot
cross the gate!
At the windows, ONE RIFLEMAN turns, crying out.
ONE RIFLEMAN
He's coming back!
More panic. The huge farmer moves towards Baltus.
HUGE FARMER
We have to save ourselves!
Baltus pulls the pistol from Ichabod's holster, brandishing.
BALTUS
No! Get away from me!
EXT. CHURCH -- DAY
The Horseman rides past the front, fired upon.
He halts at the wrought iron gate, reaching to yank off one POST
which is pointed on top. like an arrow head.
INT. CHURCH -- DAY
Baltus holds everyone's back with the pistol.
BALTUS
The next person to lay hands on me will have a bullet. Stand off!
KATRINA
Father...
BALTUS
No! We're safe here.
(points at Ichabod)
You said it. The Horseman will not have me.
CRASH the harpoon-like post SPEARS through a window, trailing rope
tied to it...
CRACK -- SKEWERS Baltus from behind, the bloodied point bursting
out his breast bone.
Baltus looks down, drops the gun... clutching the post with both
hands. Blood streams out his mouth. Katrina screams.
The rope yanks Baltus back. He SLAMS into the WINDOW...
EXT. CHURCH -- DAY
Baltus CRASHES out, hits the ground, dragged...
Outside the fence, Daredevil runs with the rope tied around his
saddle pommel. The Horseman strides forward, sword out.
Baltus SLAMS the fence and the-rope snaps. He is held there awkwardly,,
gurgling blood.
The Horseman reaches Baltus... chops off his head.
INT. SLEEPY HOLLOW FORESTS -- DAY
The storm has passed. Empty forest. Long, peaceful pause, till
Ichabod makes his way through, searching the ground.
Ichabod comes to look down a small hill. The corpse of Lady, Van
Tassel lies headless, in a dirty, torn dress.
Ichabod walks to the body. Lady Van Tassel's arm is twisted behind.
The sewn cut on the palm of her hand faces up.
ICHABOD
(shouting back)
Here! I have found her...
(looking at corpse, quiet and miserable)
Here she is.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, UPSTAIRS HALL -- EARLY EVENING
Doctor Lancaster comes out from where Katrina is asleep. He closes
the door, wipes his sweaty face. Ichabod waits.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
It has been a terrible jolt to her nerves.
ICHABOD
You will stay at her side?
Doctor Lancaster nods. Ichabod walks.
EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE -- EARLY EVENING
It's getting dark. Ichabod comes out and crosses the porch. A few
of the Hollow's residents are here. Young Masbath gets up and follows
Ichabod onto the lawn.
Ichabod walks without waiting.
YOUNG MASBATH
She's the one who controlled the Horseman, isn't she, sir? Sir?
(no answer)
ICHABOD
I need time for thinking. Without you hanging on my coattails for
a change.
Ichabod keeps walking. Young Masbath stops, wounded.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD -- NIGHT
Ichabod stands holding a torch, looking up. The whole area is bright
from the light off a giant fire.
There are broken lanterns and barrels around the agonized, twisted
tree. The tree is aflame, fire dancing up the trunk. and through
every branch to lick the sky.
EXT. FOREST -- DAY
Dawn. Ichabod is seated overlooking the Hudson. He stares at the
beauty around him, brooding through bleary eyes. Gunpowder is tied
to a tree. BIRDS SING.
The ledger is open in Ichabod's lap. He thumbs pages absently,
just keeps staring off.
EXT. FOREST -- DAY (TIME CUT)
A fire burns in a circle of rocks. Ichabod's ledger is thrown in.
The pages catch quickly.
Ichabod watches, then walks away. He's about to climb onto Gunpowder,
but on second thought he opens his satchel and digs out a BOOK.
He walks back to the fire, throws it on...
"Romeo and Juliet." Flames devour it.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD -- DAY
The clearing is silent. The twisted tree still stands, smoldering,
impressive as ever, or perhaps even more so with the alien appearance
its blackened skin now affords it.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
Ichabod packs up baggage. Young Masbath is miserable.
YOUNG MASBATH
Won't you change your mind, sir? What can I say to convince you?
ICHABOD
Nothing. To hell with this place and all the people here.
Ichabod closes a bag, throws it with others.
YOUNG MASBATH
Why... why are you like this?
ICHABOD
(pause, softening)
You do not know all that has happened.
(pause)
You cannot understand.
EXT. VAN TASSEL ESTATE -- NIGHT
A coach, with Gunpowder as one of its team, waits in the orchard.
Van Ripper comes to meet Ichabod and Masbath.
ICHABOD
Half now. Half when we reach the city.
Ichabod hands Van Ripper money. Van Ripper takes the baggage. Ichabod
looks to the Manor House. Only one light shines, in a second floor
window.
Katrina can be seen there a moment as she closes curtains.
Ichabod turns to Young Masbath, who is beginning to cry.
ICHABOD
This is farewell.
YOUNG MASBATH
Take me with you. There's nothing left for me here.
ICHABOD
I cannot.
(bends to Masbath)
You should not worry.
(pause, sorrow)
Van Ripper and his wife will look after you. They will. You will
be well cared for.
Young Masbath hugs. Ichabod hugs back, swallowing.
ICHABOD
I am sorry.
(quietly)
Forgive me. I failed you.
Ichabod releases and goes quickly away, finding this misery unbearable.
He climbs in the coach.
YOUNG MASBATH
Do not go, Constable. How can you leave?
INSIDE THE COACH, Ichabod slumps back in darkness and closes his
eyes. He pounds twice on the coach wall.
OUTSIDE, Van Ripper whips the reins. The coach starts. Young Masbath
follows. The coach picks up speed on the long straight road.
Young Masbath stops, wiping tears.
EXT. TOWN SQUARE/CHURCH -- NIGHT
Ichabod's coach moves through the town square. A few people in
the churchyard's tent city come out to watch it pass.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
The door is pushed open. Young Masbath enters, looks around the
empty room. He goes to sit in a chair at the work table, crossing
his arms and resting his head.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, SITTING ROOM -- NIGHT
A plate of food sits untouched. Katrina is slumped down in a chair,
heartbroken, staring into the fireplace.
Behind her, a shadow moves across the room.
EXT. THE LONG STRAIGHT ROAD -- NIGHT
Van Ripper leads the coach through the stone pillars marking the
entrance of Sleepy Hollow.
INT. ICHABOD'S COACH -- NIGHT
Ichabod takes off his hat, sets it on the seat. The window between
him and the driver slides open.
VAN RIPPER
Sir... this is yours.
(offering something)
The Van Tassel girl said to give it to you after you were gone.
Ichabod takes it. It is the bird/cage spinning toy. He studies
it. What melancholy.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, DINING ROOM -- NIGHT
Katrina sits with her eyes closed. A BOARD is HEARD CREAKING. She
sits up. Suddenly, a FIGURE in black is behind her as she turns.
WRACK! -- a gloved fist strikes.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, ICHABOD'S ROOM -- NIGHT
A dull THUD is HEARD downstairs, like a body falling. Young Masbath
takes notice. He moves to the door...
INT. ICHABOD'S COACH -- NIGHT
Ichabod turns the strings on the bird/cage toy, ponders it.
The paper disk spins, images flickering until the bird appears
to be inside the cage.
Ichabod keeps spinning it, looks out the window.
A tear rolls down his cheek.
The bird cage toy's rotation slows... stops.
Ichabod looks at it a long moment, then pockets it and leans forward
to the window at front.
OUTSIDE THE COACH
Ichabod's face appears behind Van Ripper.
ICHABOD
Van Ripper, turn the coach about!
VAN RIPPER
What did you say?
ICHABOD
Turn around. Now!
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, FOYER -- NIGHT
Young Masbath comes down the stairs, looking around meekly.
YOUNG MASBATH
Hello? Katrina?
Masbath starts down a hall. He does not see, in another room, Katrina's
body is dragged across the floor.
|
