| EXT. TOWN SQUARE, DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE -- NIGHT
The coach comes to Lancaster's. Ichabod climbs out before it even
stops fully, satchel in hand. He hurries...
INT. DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE, PARLOR -- NIGHT
Doctor Lancaster, half asleep, comes to answer BANGING on his door.
Ichabod pushes past, taking Lancaster's lantern.
ICHABOD
Pardon the intrusion...
INT. DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE, MEDICAL ROOM -- NIGHT
Ichabod enters. There are two coffins on the floor.
ICHABOD
I never examined these bodies.
Ichabod removes the lid from one coffin. Lancaster is about to
say something indignant, but then just looks disgusted.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
... help yourself, you pompous ass.
(pause)
I will be in bed.
ICHABOD
Would you stay, doctor? I may need assistance.
Lancaster reluctantly remains. Ichabod stares at the dead Lady
Van Tassel. The neck wound is covered by a stained brown cloth,
which Ichabod unwraps.
ICHABOD
Stains of blood.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
What of it?
Ichabod takes out one of the lenses that survived the magnification
spectacles, bends to examine the neck.
ICHABOD
Jagged flesh.
(pause)
The Horseman did not do this.
Ichabod moves to the side of the coffin, lifting the hand with
the stitched gash on its palm.
ICHABOD
Here, Doctor. Hold this just so...
Lancaster holds the lens so that Ichabod can study the cut through
it. Ichabod takes a scalpel-like knife from his satchel, lifts the
hand and cuts stitches.
THROUGH THE LENS: the gash spreads easily, soft, bloodless.
ICHABOD
No clotting or gathering of pus. No healing at all.
DOCTOR LANCASTER
What?
ICHABOD
When this cut was made, this person was already dead.
(stands straight)
This is not Lady Van Tassel.
INT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE, KITCHEN -- NIGHT
Young Masbath enters. The door swings shut.
YOUNG MASBATH
Katrina.
(steps forward)
Is anyone here?
Behind him, the door SLAMS open -- Lady Van Tassel reaches to grab
Young Masbath by the throat.
EXT. CHURCH/TOWN SQUARE -- NIGHT
Ichabod charges up to the church doors, pounding.
ICHABOD
Open the door. open up, damn it!
(pounds, shouting)
Lady van Tassel is alive. The Horseman is her puppet. Please...
The door opens and Huge Farmer points a rifle at Ichabod. Frightened
people peer out from behind.
HUGE FARMER
Aren't we rid of you?
ICHABOD
Listen to me. Lady Van Tassel has faked her death. I need able men...
HUGE FARMER
She's dead, and you have gone mad.
ICHABOD
No...
HUGE FARMER
(steps forward)
Get out! Isn't it enough that you have ruined this town? Go!
Ichabod backs away from the gun, frustrated, runs...
At the DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE, Van Ripper is still on the coach. Ichabod
sprints over, breathless, taking out his pistol.
ICHABOD
Van Ripper... do you have a gun?
VAN RIPPER
Yes. Here...
Van Ripper hold up a rifle. Ichabod holds out his hand.
ICHABOD
May I see it?
Van Ripper's confused, but hands the rifle over. Ichabod immediately
points his pistol at Van Ripper.
ICHABOD
Get down. Hurry!
Van Ripper climbs off. Ichabod climbs up, whips the horses.
ICHABOD
Sorry.
Van Ripper watches the coach leave, still with his hands up.
EXT. FOREST -- NIGHT
In a wooded area, Katrina lies unconscious. Gloved hands reach
to her hair and cut off a clump with SCISSORS.
A conjuring pile has been made, containing a small animal's heart
with an iron nail through it. Katrina's hair is added and the pile
is lit to burn.
Nearby, Young Masbath watches, on his belly with his hands tied
behind his back.
Lady Van Tassel whispers over the fire, her white horse tied nearby.
She looks to Katrina, who stirs.
Lady Van Tassel takes the Horseman's skull from a bag over her
shoulder, places the skull in the flames. THUNDER is HEARD. Lady
Van Tassel looks up, smiles.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS, TREE OF THE DEAD -- NIGHT
The wind tosses leaves in swirls. The twisted tree opens wide.
with a RUMBLE -- shafts of light shooting out.
EXT. THE LONG STRAIGHT ROAD -- NIGHT
Ichabod drives the coach hard ahead.
EXT. FOREST -- NIGHT
Katrina sits up, groggy. Lady Van Tassel looks down at her.
KATRINA
You... you are alive.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Am I? Or, are you and Young Masbath dead along with me?
Katrina sees Young Masbath, and beyond him, the dying fire.
YOUNG MASBATH
She commands the Horseman.
LADY VAN TASSEL
And, quite beautifully done, wouldn't you say? It is almost over.
THUNDER again. Wind starts to pick up.
LADY VAN TASSEL
(of the wind)
He rides tonight.
KATRINA
Father saw you die.
LADY VAN TASSEL
He saw me thrown... saw the Horseman looming over me as I fled.
Things I wanted him to see. But, as long as I govern the Horseman,
he cannot harm me. Baltus did not stay enough to see that. He ran
as a coward, unfettered by my fate.
YOUNG MASBATH
Then, whose body was it... ?
LADY VAN TASSEL
The precious servant girl Sarah. I killed her and kept her body
hidden, till I needed it. And, when I return to the Hollow tomorrow,
my version of the truth will come to pass.
(faking meekness)
I mean, there I was that fateful day, following Baltus into the
woods. I did not know what he was up to... where he was going. I
worried for his safety.
Katrina cautiously moves the hand she's supporting herself with,
feels a rock and clutches it.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Imagine my surprise, finding him on a liason with a common servant.
A girl who had apparently become his secret love.
KATRINA
No one will believe your lies, whore.
LADY VAN TASSEL
This whore will see your mouth shut forever very soon. But... I
am not going to kill you. Not me...
She picks up the Horseman's skull in her gloved hand.
LADY VAN TASSEL
He will have that honor.
EXT. WESTERN WOODS -- NIGHT
The Horseman rides Daredevil, a freight train of moldering flesh,
heading towards a chasm with no bridge.
They reach it, galloping in mid-air to the other side.
EXT. LONG STRAIGHT ROAD/VAN TASSEL ESTATE -- NIGHT
Ichabod guides the coach into the Van Tassel orchard.
EXT. FOREST -- NIGHT
Lady Van Tassel admires the skull.
LADY VAN TASSEL
(mock sorrow)
Woe is me.. that spying on my husband in his filthy indiscretion,
I saw he and Sarah attacked by the Horseman. Oh pity me... so overcome
was I that I wandered in the Western Woods... dazed... nearly blind
from terror.
Lady Van Tassel crouches, rubbing dirt on her face.
LADY VAN TASSEL
And, tomorrow is my grand performance, having barely survived the
elements...
(more emoting)
By sheer luck I found my way back to the Hollow. But... what do
I find here... ? My dear, sweet step-daughter Katrina is dead. why
has God forsaken her?
Seeing that Lady Van Tassel lavish attention on Katrina, Masbath
takes this opportunity to ease onto his knees.
LADY VAN TASSEL
(of herself, pleased)
No one will suspect this sad woman who has been through such an
ordeal. With only the empty solace of her money and land to comfort
her.
EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE -- NIGHT
Ichabod leaps from the coach, bounds up the porch.
ICHABOD
Katrina!
EXT. FOREST -- NIGHT
ICHABOD is HEARD. Lady Van Tassel turns, astonished.
KATRINA
Murderer!
Katrina slings the rock -- strikes Lady Van Tassel in the head,
a glancing blow that knocks her down. Katrina runs.
Katrina grips Young Masbath, helping him up...
But, Lady Van Tassel scrambles up, grabs Katrina and throws her
back to the ground.
Lady Van Tassel steps hard on Katrina's ankle, touches her forehead,
bleeding, pissed.
LADY VAN TASSEL
You've been a naughty girl.
Young Masbath leaps to action, charging head first -- slams into
Lady Van Tassel, sends her backwards.
Katrina runs and pulls Masbath up. They flee.
KATRINA
Ichabod!
Lady Van Tassel rolls, recovering, not very concerned.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Little bitch.
EXT. VAN TASSEL HOUSE -- NIGHT
Ichabod comes out the open front doors... hearing...
KATRINA (O.S.)
(far away)
Ichabod!
Ichabod climbs back on the coach, taking off.
EXT. FOREST -- NIGHT
Katrina and Young Masbath run out from a line of trees.
KATRINA
Ichabod!
YOUNG MASBATH
Here we are!
BEHIND IN THE FOREST, Lady Van Tassel rides her white horse, in
no hurry. Wind kicks hard. HOOFBEATS are HEARD.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Run, Katrina! Fast as your pretty legs will carry you. It makes
no difference.
ON THE LAWN, Ichabod drives towards Katrina and Masbath.
Behind, at the tree line, Lady Van Tassel holds up the Horseman's
skull, wind tossing her dress and hair.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Nothing will stop him now!
At mid-field, Ichabod reaches Katrina and Masbath.
ICHABOD
Climb up!
YOUNG MASBATH
Lady Van Tassel...
ICHABOD
I know. Hold on.
With Katrina and Masbath on board, Ichabod turns the coach. Katrina
unties Masbath's hands. HOOFBEATS GET LOUDER.
LADY VAN TASSEL
Olly-olly oxen-free!
Ichabod looks back towards Lady Van Tassel.
At the treeline, the Horseman breaks into the open, hell on horseback.
Full speed ahead.
ICHABOD
Christ.
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