The People Inside see the handcuffs that attach the two.

  As John Ruth crosses the room heading towards the kitchen area, dragging Domergue along like a rag doll, he asks the English Man;

  JOHN RUTH

  Looks like Minnie’s got ’er a full house. When did you fella’s arrive?

  ENGLISH MAN

  About forty minutes ago.

  JOHN RUTH

  (meaning the Cowboy Fella’)

  Is that your driver?

  John Ruth finds the coffy pot on the stove.

  ENGLISH MAN

  No, he’s a passenger. The driver lit out. He said he was going to spend the blizzard shacked up with a friend.

  JOHN RUTH

  Lucky devil.

  John Ruth goes looking for coffy cups. He sees a half plucked chicken, makes a face at it. He finds a coffy cup, and pours himself a hot cup of Minnie’s coffy. John Ruth takes a DRINK of coffy.… Then SPITS IT OUT…

  JOHN RUTH

  Jesus Christ, that’s awful!

  The Englishman laughs.

  As does Domergue.

  As does John Ruth as he takes the coffy pot and dumps out the brown junk in it.

  JOHN RUTH

  Christ almighty, what that Mexican fella’ do, soak his ole’ socks in the pot?

  ENGLISH MAN

  I think we all felt the same way, but were a little too polite to say something.

  DOMERGUE

  (referring to Ruth)

  He don’t have that problem.

  JOHN RUTH

  Where’s the coffy?

  The English Man points at a bag.

  ENGLISH MAN

  There.

  John Ruth makes a new pot of coffy, dragging Domergue with him. As he prepares the coffy, he asks the English Man;

  JOHN RUTH

  So all three of you on the way to Red Rock when the blizzard stopped ya’, huh?

  ENGLISH MAN

  Yes, all three of us were on that stagecoach out there.

  JOHN RUTH

  Where’s the well water?

  The English Man points at a bucket.

  ENGLISH MAN

  Right there.

  John Ruth adds water to the coffy pot and puts it on the pot belly stove to boil.

  Then suddenly Domergue BLURTS OUT;

  DOMERGUE

  The new Sheriff of Red Rock is traveling with us.

  JOHN RUTH

  Sheriff of Red Rock, that’ll be the day! If he’s a goddamn sheriff, I’m a monkey’s uncle.

  DOMERGUE

  Good, then you can share bananas with your nigger friend in the stable.

  ENGLISH MAN

  (curious)

  So the new Sheriff of Red Rock is traveling with you?

  JOHN RUTH

  He’s lyin’, he ain’t sheriff of nothin’. He’s a southern renegade. He’s just talkin’ his self outta’ freezin’ to death, is all.

  (to Domergue)

  What the fuck I tell you ’bout talkin’? I will bust you in the mouth right in front of these people, I don’t give a fuck!

  The English Man watches the terse exchange between the man and woman with a visible amount of distaste.

  ENGLISH MAN

  You never said your name, sir.

  JOHN RUTH

  John Ruth.

  ENGLISH MAN

  Are you a lawman?

  JOHN RUTH

  I’m takin’ her to the law.

  ENGLISH MAN

  So you’re a bounty hunter?

  JOHN RUTH

  That’s right, Buster.

  ENGLISH MAN

  Do you have a warrant?

  John Ruth is surprised by that question.

  JOHN RUTH

  ’Course I do.

  ENGLISH MAN

  May I see it?

  JOHN RUTH

  Why?

  ENGLISH MAN

  You’re supposed to produce it upon request. How am I supposed to know you’re not a villain, kidnapping this woman without a warrant in your possession?

  JOHN RUTH

  (irritated)

  What’s your name, Buster?

  ENGLISH MAN

  Well it certainly isn’t Buster. It’s Oswaldo Mobray.

  JOHN RUTH

  Oswaldo?

  OSWALDO

  Yes.

  JOHN RUTH

  Well I got my warrant, Oswaldo.

  John Ruth takes the warrant out of his winter coat, and SLAPS it into Oswaldo’s hand.

  Oswaldo removes a glasses case from his suit coat pocket. Out of the case he removes a pair of reading glasses, and places them on his face. He examines the document.

  He looks up from the paper to the face of Daisy Domergue.

  OSWALDO

  I take it you’re Daisy Domergue?

  Domergue starts to say, yes—when John Ruth interrupts her.

  JOHN RUTH

  —It’s her.

  Oswaldo goes back to examining the warrant.

  OSWALDO

  (as he reads)

  This warrant says, Dead or Alive?

  JOHN RUTH

  Yes it does.

  OSWALDO

  Transporting a desperate hostile prisoner like her sounds like hard work.

  Wouldn’t transporting her be easier if she were dead?

  As John Ruth puts the warrant back in the pocket of his winter coat.

  JOHN RUTH

  No one said the job was suppose to be easy.

  OSWALDO

  Why is her hanging proper, so important to you?

  JOHN RUTH

  Let’s just say I don’t like to cheat the hangman. He’s gotta’ make a living too.

  Oswaldo Mobray reaches into the pocket of his suit vest, and produces a BUSINESS CARD, which he extends to John Ruth.

  OSWALDO

  I appreciate that. Allow me to properly introduce myself. I’m Oswaldo Mobray, The Hangman in these parts.

  John Ruth looks at the card.

  JOHN RUTH

  Well la-de-da.

  (looks at Oswaldo)

  Looks like I brought you a customer.

  Oswaldo looks at Daisy.

  OSWALDO

  So it would appear.

  DOMERGUE

  Have you ever spent two days or more locked up with one of your customers beforehand?

  OSWALDO

  No I can’t say I have.

  JOHN RUTH

  (to Oswaldo)

  Don’t talk to my prisoner. I talk to my prisoner, that’s it. You got it?

  OSWALDO

  I got it. Jolly good.

  EXT—MINNIE’S STABLE—SNOWY DAY

  We see the four men left out in the cold, O.B., Maj.Warren, Bob, and Chris, unhitch the six horses one at a time, walk them across the snowy field to the stable, and lead them into their stall.

  All four men know how to handle horses.

  The brutal wind gets more brutal still.

  INT—MINNIE’S STABLE—DAY

  The stable is a rather large affair. It houses eighteen horses. Six from John Ruth’s coach. Six from that other coach out there that brought Oswaldo and his group. As well as six other horses that would of replaced one of those wagons if there hadn’t been a blizzard.

  It’s quite a full house.

  The four men get the six horses in to their stalls.

  As they finish, Bob the Mexican says to the other three;

  BOB

  I’ll feed and water the horses. You go inside and get some hot coffy. I’ve got some stew cooking. Should be done soon.

  O.B., who as an experienced stagecoach driver, has seen his share of bad weather, says to the Mexican put in charge;

  O.B.

  Look no matter how bad this blizzard gets, we still gotta’ feed these horses and take a squat from time to time. So me an’ Chris better lay out a line from the stable to the front door, and from the front door to the shithouse.

  BOB

  Good idea.

  O.B. and Chris grab some rope, hammers, spikes and get to work on that.

  After they leave, Maj.Warren says to Bob;

  MAJ.WARREN

  I’ll give ya’ a hand.

  BOB

  No don’t worry, go inside, get warm.

  MAJ.WARREN

  You’re doing stable work in a goddamn blizzard, I offer to help and you say no?

  BOB

  You’re right mi amigo, muchas gracias.

  The two get to the business of feeding and watering the hard working horses.

  EXT—MINNIE’S STABLE—DAY

  Chris and O.B. stretch out a rope in the harsh snow and wind.

  One to the front door from the stable. The other from the front door to the outhouse.

  CUT TO

  INT—MINNIE’S HABERDASHERY—DAY

  John Ruth, with Domergue in tow, has relocated himself to the makeshift bar drinking tequila out of clay cups with the hangman Oswaldo Mobray.

  OSWALDO

  (to Domergue)

  Now you’re wanted for murder. For the sake of my analogy, let’s assume you did it.

  John Ruth SNORTS.

  Her eyeballs go to John Ruth for a beat, then move back to Oswaldo.

  DOMERGUE

  So.… assuming that.…?

  OSWALDO

  John Ruth wants to take you back to Red Rock to stand trial for murder. And… IF.… you’re found guilty, the people of Red Rock will hang you in the town square. And as the hangman, I will perform the execution. And if all those things end up taking place, that’s what civilized society calls JUSTICE.

  (beat)

  However if the relatives and loved ones of the person you murdered were outside that door right now. And after busting down that door, they drug you out in the snow, and strung you up by the neck…...… that would be FRONTIER JUSTICE.

  Now the good part about frontier justice is it’s very thirst quenching. The bad part is it’s apt to be Wrong as Right.

  JOHN RUTH

  (to Domergue)

  Not in your case. In your case, you’d have it comin’. But other people, maybe not so much.

  OSWALDO

  But ultimately… what’s the real difference between the two? The real difference is ME… The Hangman.

  To me, it doesn’t matter what you did. When I hang you, I will get no satisfaction from your death. It’s my job. I hang you in Red Rock, I go to the next town, I hang somebody else there. The man who pulls the lever that breaks your neck will be a dispassionate man. And that dispassion is the very essence of justice. For justice delivered WITHOUT dispassion, is always in danger of not being justice.

  As the clay shooter leaves John Ruth’s lips, he looks across the room suspiciously at The Cowboy Fella’.

  The Cowboy Fella’ sits at his table, writing in a little book. He BUSTS a peanut shell with his fist, then picks up the nut and pops it in his mouth.

  John Ruth is just about to turn to Oswaldo and ask about the Cowboy Fella’.

  When SUDDENLY we hear a LOUD SNAP SOUND, followed by the DEATH CRY of a surprised rodent. Domergue jumps.

  DOMERGUE

  What’s that?

  OSWALDO

  Rat trap.

  DOMERGUE

  What?

  OSWALDO

  Rat trap. Minnie’s basement is apparently filled with the filthy creatures. One less it would appear as of now.

  John Ruth looks back over at the Cowboy Fella’, he’s writing in a book with a fancy ink pen of the day, which he dips into a blue ink bottle from time to time.

  JOHN RUTH

  (to Oswaldo)

  How ’bout that cowboy fella’? What’s he writing in that book?

  OSWALDO

  His diary, I suppose.

  JOHN RUTH

  Well then it would appear the man has had an exciting life. What’s his story?

  OSWALDO

  I don’t know, he doesn’t say much.

  JOHN RUTH

  What’d ya’ mean, he doesn’t say much? You rode up that whole hill together didn’t ya’?

  OSWALDO

  And he didn’t say much.

  JOHN RUTH

  What’s his name?

  OSWALDO

  I don’t know.

  JOHN RUTH

  He never said his name?

  OSWALDO

  I don’t think so.

  John Ruth digs a SILVER DOLLAR out of his pocket. With his thumb, he FLIPS IT THROUGH THE AIR, LANDING on The Cowboy Fella’s table with a LOUD THUMP.

  The Cowboy Fella’ looks up from his writing at John Ruth.

  John Ruth dragging along Domergue, heads towards The Cowboy Fella’.

  JOHN RUTH

  No offense cowboy fella’, just gettin’ your attention.

  The Cowboy Fella’ lays his fancy pen down on the table, leans back in his chair, and says to the bounty hunter his first lines;

  COWBOY FELLA’

  You got it.

  JOHN RUTH

  What’cha writing friend?

  COWBOY FELLA’

  Only thing I’m qualified to write about.

  JOHN RUTH

  What’s that?

  COWBOY FELLA’

  My life story.

  JOHN RUTH

  You’re writing your life story?

  COWBOY FELLA’

  You bet I am.

  JOHN RUTH

  Am I in it?

  COWBOY FELLA’

  You just entered.

  JOHN RUTH

  Well you like writing stories so much, why don’t you tell me the story that brings you here?

  COWBOY FELLA’

  Who’s askin’?

  JOHN RUTH

  I am. John Ruth. I’m bringin’ in this one

  (gesturing to Domergue)

  to Red Rock to hang. Ain’t no way I’m spendin’ a coupla’ nights under a roof with somebody I don’t know who they are. And I don’t know who you are. So who are you?

  COWBOY FELLA’

  Joe Gage.

  JOHN RUTH

  What?

  JOE GAGE

  That’s my name, Joe Gage.

  JOHN RUTH

  Okay Joe Gage, why you goin’ to Red Rock?

  JOE GAGE

  I ain’t goin’ to Red Rock.

  JOHN RUTH

  Where you goin’?

  JOE GAGE

  I’m goin’ nine miles outside of Red Rock.

  JOHN RUTH

  What’s there?

  JOE GAGE

  My mother. I’m a cow puncher. I just finished a big long drive. I wasn’t just an ass in a saddle this time, either. I was partners on this one. For once in my life I made a pretty penny. I was coming here to spend Christmas with mother.

  JOHN RUTH

  Really?

  JOE GAGE

  Really.

  JOHN RUTH

  Funny, you don’t look like the coming home for Christmas type.

  JOE GAGE

  Well then looks are deceiving. Because I’m definitely the coming home for Christmas to spend with my Mother type. Christmas to spend with Mother? It’s the greatest thing in the world.

  (beat)

  Is that good enough for you, John Ruth?

  JOHN RUTH

  That’s good enough for now.

  (beat)

  Steer clear of my prisoner.

  He moves away from Joe Gage, and looks at the Old General.

  The Old Timer, defiantly, doesn’t look back.

  JOHN RUTH

  (to Old Timer)

  Hello old timer.

  The Old Timer points out the General rank on his uniform. Unlike Maj.Warren, the old timer’s officer insignias haven’t been ripped off his uniform.

  OLD TIMER

  General.

  JOHN RUTH

  (respectfully)

  General.

  OLD TIMER

  You sir, are a Hyena.

  Domergue laughs at this.

  OLD TIMER

  (CON’T)

  And I have no wish to speak to you.

  John Ruth takes the insult for a moment, then says;

  JOHN RUTH

  I’ve been called worse. Fair enough, General. Sorry to bother you.

  Then we hear Chris and O.B. on the other side of the front door.

  EXT—MINNIE’S HABERDASHERY—DAY

  Chris tries the door, it won’t open.

  Then he hears The People Inside YELL from the other side of the door;

  PEOPLE INSIDE (OS)

  Kick it open!

  Chris and O.B. trade looks.

  INT—MINNIE’S HABERDASHERY—DAY

  Chris Mannix KICKS IN THE FRONT DOOR—The WIND from outside WHIPS INTO THE ROOM—Chris Mannix and O.B. step quickly inside, Mannix SLAMS the DOOR SHUT behind him—CUTTING OFF THE WIND—Only to see there’s no door lock.

  PEOPLE INSIDE

  You hafta’ nail it shut!

  So as Chris holds the door closed against the brutal wind, O.B. picks up the hammer, grabs some nails from the nail can, and begins pounding them into a piece of wood on the door. He finishes and starts to put the hammer down, when the people inside yell at him;

  PEOPLE INSIDE(OS)

  You need to do two pieces of wood!

  Both O.B. and Chris give them a bit of “a look”, but then turn back to the door, and pound nails into another piece of wood, sealing the door shut from the elements outside.