O.B. (OS)

  Hey Mister Ruth?

  Answering without turning around;

  JOHN RUTH

  What?

  O.B. (OS)

  We got another fella’ on foot, up here on the road!

  Turning towards O.B.

  JOHN RUTH

  What?

  He turns back around and glares down at Domergue.

  JOHN RUTH

  Is that it Daisy? Is that the surprise you got planned for me—cause I know you gotta’ surprise planned for me.

  DOMERGUE

  Maybe the surprise is I’m tired of runnin’.

  JOHN RUTH

  You’re facin’ a rope tramp, ain’t nobody get tired of runnin’ from that.

  DOMERGUE

  You might be surprised John.

  JOHN RUTH

  If you’re countin’ on surprisin’ me Daisy, don’t count on it.

  MAJ.WARREN & O.B.

  look down the road at something. John Ruth, rifle in hand, joins them.

  POV:

  way way down the snow covered road, a lone tiny figure of a man waves a lantern, trying to get their attention.

  JOHN RUTH

  (to Maj.Warren)

  Considering there’s a blizzard goin’ on, whole lotta’ fellas walkin’ around, wouldn’t you say, Major?

  The Major looks at Mr.Ruth.

  MAJ.WARREN

  Considering I’m one half of them fellas..… yeah.… seems to be a lot of us.

  John Ruth points down the road.

  JOHN RUTH

  You know that fella’?

  MAJ.WARREN

  I know me some people ’round here. I spent a lotta’ time on this mountain hidin’ out from bushwackers. So maybe I know that fella’, and maybe I don’t. But I wasn’t expecting nobody.

  JOHN RUTH

  You weren’t, aye?

  MAJ.WARREN

  No I weren’t.

  John Ruth lowers his rifle barrel till it’s pointed at Maj.Warren.

  JOHN RUTH

  This changes things, son.

  Eight thousand dollars a lotta’ money for a nigger. But with a partner…..… eighteen’s a whole lot better.

  MAJ.WARREN

  I don’t have a partner no more.

  JOHN RUTH

  So you say.

  MAJ.WARREN

  Why don’t you take a gander at those three frozen fuckers up there. You won’t find no holes in their backs. Well, okay maybe not Rebel Roy McCrackin, him I did shoot in the back. But shitfire, he deserved it. He not only shot my partner, he tried to steal my horse.

  John Ruth, keeping the barrel of his rifle pointed at Maj.Warren’s chest, takes a pair of HANDCUFFS off his belt, and throws them in the snow at the former Cavalry Officer’s feet.

  JOHN RUTH

  (to Maj.Warren)

  Put them on.

  MAJ.WARREN

  I ain’t wearin’ handcuffs.

  JOHN RUTH

  You put those on or you stop worryin’ about this whole thing, right now.

  Maj.Warren gives Ruth “a look”, then bends down and puts on the handcuffs. As he does, he says;

  MAJ.WARREN

  You really think I’m in cahoots wit’ that fella’? Or her?

  JOHN RUTH

  That’s my problem boy, I don’t know. And until I do, you in chains.

  CUT TO BLACK

  CUT FROM BLACK TO:

  MEDIUM SHOT OF THE STRANGER ON THE ROAD

  He faces O.B., the wagon, and the horses. Holding a lantern as the wind whips around him, he’s a rather untrustworthy looking man in his early thirties with rotten teeth and an admittedly FLY WINTER COAT. His COOL BLACK COWBOY HAT is turned WHITE BY THE SNOW.

  Cutting straight after that CHAPTER CARD to this 70mm MEDIUM SHOT of a new character suggests this new character is a real SON OF A GUN.

  John Ruth’s voice yells out from OFF SCREEN inside the wagon;

  JOHN RUTH’S VOICE (OS)

  Hand your weapons to the driver.

  STRANGER ON THE ROAD

  Little jumpy, ain’t you?

  The Stranger’s voice pegs this new character as a stranger from The South.

  JOHN RUTH’S VOICE (OS)

  Never mind the jokes, just do it.

  STRANGER ON THE ROAD

  If you say so.

  JOHN RUTH’S VOICE (OS)

  I do.

  CUT TO

  INT—STAGECOACH (NOT MOVING)—DAY

  John Ruth next to the window has his rifle out and pointed at The Stranger. Domergue sits next to him cuffed to his wrist. Maj.Warren sits across from him with hands cuffed in front of him on his lap.

  STRANGER ON THE ROAD (OS)

  Okay, I done did it.

  JOHN RUTH

  O.B.? Ya’ got ’em?

  O.B.’S VOICE (OS)

  (yelling back)

  I got ’em!

  JOHN RUTH

  Okay fella’, keep holdin’ that lantern with that one hand, and keep that other hand where I can see it. Walk around here where I can get a good look at cha’. Real slow like.

  John Ruth gets a good gander at The Stranger.

  JOHN RUTH

  I’ll be a goddamn dog in the manger. That you Chris Mannix?

  The Young Stranger, with his arm raised, holding the lantern with the wind whipping around him, says;

  STRANGER ON THE ROAD

  I’m sorry friend, do we know each other?

  JOHN RUTH

  Not quite.

  Inside the coach, with the doors closed, Maj.Warren says to John Ruth;

  MAJ.WARREN

  You know this fella’?

  JOHN RUTH

  (to Maj.Warren)

  Only by reputation.

  EXT—STAGECOACH ROAD—DAY

  STRANGER ON THE ROAD

  Like I said friend, you got me at a bit of a disadvantage.

  JOHN RUTH

  Keepin’ you at a disadvantage, is a advantage I intend to keep.

  STRANGER ON THE ROAD

  Whoever you are mister, you sure sound tough when you’re talkin’ to a desperate man knee deep in snow. But I don’t want no trouble. I just wanna’ ride. I’m freezin’ to death.

  INT—STAGECOACH (STILL)—DAY

  MAJ.WARREN

  (to John Ruth)

  Who is this joker?

  JOHN RUTH

  (to Maj.Warren)

  You heard of the rebel renegade Erskine Mannix?

  MAJ.WARREN

  Mannix’s Marauders?

  JOHN RUTH

  (to Maj.Warren)

  That’s them. The scourge of South Carolina, Mannix’s Marauders. That’s Erskine’s youngest boy, Chris.

  (to Chris)

  What brings you in my path, Chris Mannix?

  CHRIS MANNIX

  Well Mr.Face, I was riding to Red Rock and my horse stepped in a gopher hole in the snow, fucked up his leg, an’ had to put ’er down.

  John Ruth gives Maj.Warren a sarcastic look.

  JOHN RUTH

  Seems like a mighty bad luck day for horses.

  CHRIS

  Seemed like a mighty bad luck day for me too..… till I saw your wagon.

  JOHN RUTH

  You got business in Red Rock?

  CHRIS

  Yes I do.

  JOHN RUTH

  What?

  Chris flashes an alligator grin.

  CHRIS

  I’m the new sheriff.

  John Ruth snorts.

  JOHN RUTH

  Horseshit.

  CHRIS

  ’fraid not.

  JOHN RUTH

  Where’s your star?

  CHRIS

  Well I ain’t the sheriff yet. Once I get there they swear me in, but that ain’t happened yet. And that’s when you get the star.

  JOHN RUTH

  You got anything that can back any of this up?

  CHRIS

  Yeah. When we get to Red Rock.

  JOHN RUTH

  Not even a telegram.… you know, like when they hired ya’?

  CHRIS

  I travel light.

  (beat)

  And from the look of those three frozen fuckers up there,

  (pointing at the stagecoach roof)

  I figure you’re a bounty hunter open for business. And I figure you’re taking them three dead bodies into Red Rock to get paid?

  Tilting his head in Domergue’s direction.

  JOHN RUTH

  Three dead. One alive.

  Chris and Daisy meet eyes.

  CHRIS

  Who’s that?

  JOHN RUTH

  Daisy Domergue.

  CHRIS

  Who the fuck is Daisy Domergue?

  JOHN RUTH

  Not a goddamn thing to nobody, except me and the hangman.

  Chris finally gets a good gander at the men inside the wagon.

  CHRIS

  Well I’ll be double dogged damned. You’re The Hangman, Bob Ruth.

  JOHN RUTH

  It’s John.

  And spotting Maj.Warren in there too.

  CHRIS

  And you… you’re the nigger with the head.… Major Marquis. My lord, is that really the real head of Major Marquis lookin’ at me now?

  MAJ.WARREN

  I’m really me, and it’s really my head.

  CHRIS

  Boy oh boy… there was a time… What’s goin’ on, you havin’ a bounty hunters picnic?—Never mind—you takin’ in them three and her to Red Rock to get paid, ain’t ya’?

  JOHN RUTH

  Yeah.

  CHRIS

  Well the man in Red Rock suppose to pay ya’ is me. The new sheriff. So if you wanna’ get paid, you need to get me to Red Rock.

  JOHN RUTH

  Well excuse me for findin’ it hard to believe a town electin’ you to do anything except drop dead.

  CHRIS

  So I’m suppose to freeze, ’cause you find something hard to believe?

  INT—STAGECOACH (STILL)

  John Ruth considers the choice.

  JOHN RUTH

  I suppose not.

  The bounty hunter KICKS the stagecoach door open. He removes the last set of handcuffs from off his belt, and tosses them in the snow at Chris’ feet.

  JOHN RUTH (CON’T)

  Put them on and come inside.

  Chris Mannix bends down and picks up the handcuffs at his feet.

  He examines them in his hand.

  Then he tosses them back inside the stagecoach, they land on the wood floor with a LOUD THUMP.

  CHRIS

  No.

  JOHN RUTH

  Then you’ll freeze.

  CHRIS

  Then you’ll hang.

  JOHN RUTH

  How so?

  CHRIS

  (to O.B.)

  Driver! Could you come down here and join us?

  O.B. climbs down off his perch and joins the conversation.

  CHRIS

  (to O.B.)

  You heard me tell this fella’ I’m the new sheriff of Red Rock, right?

  O.B.

  Yeah.

  CHRIS

  Red Rock is my town now. And I’m gonna’ enter my town, in bounty hunters chains? No sir! Sorry bushwackers, I ain’t entering Red Rock that way.

  (to O.B.)

  When you finally get to Red Rock, you’re going to realize every goddamn thing I said was right. And I expect you, O.B., to tell the townsfolk of Red Rock that John Ruth let their new sheriff freeze to death.

  (to John Ruth)

  There ain’t no bounty on my head, bushwacker. You let me die, that’s murder.

  Chris Mannix just said a mouthful. A mouthful John Ruth chews in silence.

  The bounty hunter other bounty hunters call The Hangman makes up his mind. He turns to Maj.Warren.

  JOHN RUTH

  (to Maj.Warren)

  Hold out your hands.

  John Ruth takes a TINY KEY out of his inside vest pocket, and unlocks the black man’s handcuffs.

  Every time John Ruth takes out that key, Domergue clocks it.

  JOHN RUTH

  (to O.B.)

  O.B., give the Major back his iron.

  (to the Major)

  One thing I know is this nigger-hatin’ son of a gun ain’t partnered up with you. I’ll help you protect your eight thousand, you help me protect my ten, deal?

  They shake hands.

  CHRIS

  Ain’t love grand. Y’all wanna’ lie on the ground and make snow angels together?

  JOHN RUTH

  O.B. I said, give the Major back his iron!

  O.B. leans in the wagon and hands the Major his two pistols back.

  The black man puts one back in its holster, and the other he rests lazy on his lap.

  Chris Mannix enters the coach, and sits in the space next to Maj.Warren.

  Before he climbs back up on his perch, O.B. closes the stagecoach door, and says to the passengers through the window;

  O.B.

  From here on end, no more stops, or ain’t none of us gonna’ make it to Minnie’s.

  O.B. disappears from the window, back up on his perch on the driver’s seat. He WHIPS the SIX HORSES TO LIFE, and the whole wagon RUSHES AWAY!

  INT—STAGECOACH (MOVING)—DAY

  MAJOR MARQUIS WARREN & CHRIS MANNIX

  sit side by side, across from JOHN RUTH & DOMERGUE.

  Chris Mannix looks at the outdoors speeding by the little window in the stagecoach door.

  CHRIS

  Phew doggie! That was a close one!

  There were a few hours there… I didn’t really know fer’ sure.

  He lets out a LOUD REBEL YELL!

  CHRIS

  (CON’T)

  Good god almighty, it’s good to be alive! Tell ya’ what, Bob—

  JOHN RUTH

  —The name’s John.

  CHRIS

  —When we get to Red Rock, I’ll buy you and Major Marquis there dinner and booze. My way of sayin’ thanks.

  JOHN RUTH

  I don’t drink with rebel renegades, and I damn sure don’t break bread with ’em.

  CHRIS

  Well Mr.Ruth, you sound like you got a axe to grind against The Cause.

  JOHN RUTH

  The cause of a renegade army? A bunch of losers gone loco, you bet I do. Ya’ wrapped yourselves up in the Rebel Flag as an excuse to kill and steal.

  (to Maj.Warren)

  And this should interest you Warren, imparticular emancipated blacks.

  DOMERGUE

  Sounds like my kinda’ fella’.

  Chris says to John Ruth;

  CHRIS

  Sounds to me you been readin’ a lotta’ newspapers printed in Washington D.C.

  (beat)

  Anywho..… I’m just tryin’ to let y’all know how grateful I am. I was a goner, and y’all saved me.

  JOHN RUTH

  You wanna’ show me how grateful you are.… shut up.

  Chris shuts up.

  For a moment.

  Then he turns to Maj.Warren and asks quietly;

  CHRIS

  (pointing at John Ruth)

  Does he know how famous you once was?

  Major Warren answers him quietly;

  MAJ.WARREN

  I don’t think so.

  Chris looks over at Domergue.

  CHRIS

  (meaning Maj.Warren)

  Do you know who he is?

  DOMERGUE

  Do I know about the thirty thousand dollar reward the Confederacy put on the head of Major Marquis? I had kin at Wellenbeck. Yeah, I know about Major Marquis and his head.

  John Ruth looks to Maj.Warren.

  Chris explains to John Ruth.

  CHRIS

  For hillbillies, the head of Major Marquis was a new farm, or a ranch, or a business. Or twelve good horses, the kind you could start a proper stable with. A herd of long horns and a prize bull.

  (to Maj.Warren)

  Them hillbillies went nigger head hunting but they never did get ’em the right nigger head, did they?

  MAJ.WARREN

  No they didn’t. But it wasn’t for lack of tryin’. Them peckawoods left their homes and their families, and came to this snowy mountain, lookin’ for me and fortune. None of them found fortune. The ones ain’t no one heard of no more, found me.

  CHRIS

  (to John Ruth)

  Now it didn’t stay thirty thousand the length of the war. Once passions had cooled, it dropped down to eight then five.

  (to Maj.Warren)

  What was it at war’s end?

  MAJ.WARREN

  At war’s end? There was still a regiment of Alabama veterans offering eight hundred dollars.

  CHRIS

  But, I bet even when it was five, you had your share of country boys comin’ to call?

  MAJ.WARREN

  You know I did.

  JOHN RUTH

  Why did they have a reward on you?

  MAJ.WARREN

  The Confederates took exception to my capacity for killing them. After I broke out of Wellenbeck, The South took my continued existence as a personal affront. So The Cause put a reward on my head.

  JOHN RUTH

  What’s Wellenbeck?