Épisode Le marchand de froid S04E16 - Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman Saison 4

"The Iceman Cometh"



Written by
Philip Gerson



Directed by
Alan Levi





CBS ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTIONS Prod. #2244-0416
in association with PRODUCTION DRAFT
THE SULLIVAN COMPANY September 15, 1995
(C) MCMXC Rev. Blue, September 26, 1995
CBS Inc. Rev. Pink, October 6, 1995
All Rights Reserved Rev. Yellow, October 13, 1995
Rev. Green, November 15, 1995

CBS INC. IS THE AUTHOR OF THIS PROGRAM
FOR THE PURPOSE OF COPYRIGHT AND OTHER LAWS

No portion of this material may be copied or distributed without the prior consent of CBS Inc.

DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN

"The Iceman Cometh"

Cast List


MICHAELA QUINN
SULLY

MATTHEW
COLLEEN
BRIAN

LOREN
DOROTHY
REVEREND

JAKE
HANK
PRESTON

HORACE
MYRA

GRACE
ROBERT E
ANTHONY

CLOUD DANCING

RANDOLPH CUMMINGS
CURTIS ROPER

WHITE MALE CUSTOMER
INDIAN SCHOOL TRUSTEE


FEATURED EXTRAS: CUSTOMER LOREN DROPS TO MAKE BEELINE
FOR RANDOLPH
INDIANS CARRYING CORN
*STATIONMASTER PUTS UP "WANTED" POSTER
*2 MEN HELP JAKE, RANDOLPH CARRY ICEBOX

BACKGROUND: TOWNSFOLK


FIRST HAYSEED OMITTED
SECOND HAYSEED OMITTED



TEASER


FADE IN:


EXT. RESERVATION - DAY ONE 1

SULLY and CLOUD DANCING walk toward the teepees, each carrying an ear of corn, from which they taste kernels:

CLOUD DANCING
It will be ready to harvest in a few days.

SULLY
Both fields came in real strong --

CLOUD DANCING
More than we need.

SULLY
You done a good job -- 'specially for your first crop. It's *turnin' real sweet.

CLOUD DANCING
(wry)
Perhaps one day I will find the taste sweet.

They stop outside a teepee. Sully looks at Cloud Dancing; he knows what these ears of corn represent:

SULLY
I know it ain't the same as huntin'... but you can sell the extra corn -- buy some meat.

CLOUD DANCING
Buy meat?

SULLY
And buildin' supplies -- *things you need.

Cloud Dancing looks at the ear of corn in his hand...


EXT. GRACE'S CAFE - DAY ONE 2

GRACE offers a piece of pie to CURTIS ROPER, a well-dressed, sophisticated, successful-looking black man. ANTHONY gazes at him with shy admiration; both he and Grace find him impressive:

(CONTINUED)

2.


CONTINUED: 2

GRACE
Some pecan pie, Mr. Roper? I know you liked my apple yesterday...

CURTIS
How can I resist? And please -- call me Curtis.
(tasting the pie)
You keep serving food like this, Grace, I may never leave.

Grace beams, and Anthony grins; this would be just fine with both of them.


+ROBERT E 3

takes note of this as he gets up from a nearby table and takes his plate to the washstand.


+BACK TO GRACE, CURTIS AND ANTHONY 4

CURTIS
You didn't learn to bake pecan pie like this in Colorado?

GRACE
No -- I'm from New Orleans...

CURTIS
I knew it! Tasting this, I can smell coffee beans roasting on the Rue Tolouse, hear carriages on the cobblestones...

GRACE
(surprised)
Don't tell me you're from New Orleans too?

CURTIS
I grew up in Chicago --
(to Anthony, playfully)
The wiiindy city. But I worked in New Orleans as an assistant surveyor. Do you know what a surveyor does, Anthony?

Anthony shakes his head, no. Curtis pats the bench next to him, encouraging Anthony to sit beside him.

CURTIS
We plot out where to build streets and buildings.

(CONTINUED)

3.


CONTINUED: 4

ANTHONY
(in total wonder)
You build cities?

Curtis laughs -- it's a rich laugh, full of confidence and life, and Anthony likes it. So does Grace.


+ROBERT E, AT THE WASHSTAND, 5

can't help being jealous. He returns to the livery.


+ANGLE - MIKE AND THE REVEREND AT ANOTHER TABLE 6

MIKE plows through a large lunch as THE REVEREND refers to a letter:

REVEREND
We went to seminary together, we've kept in touch -- now he runs the Indian school in Denver --

MIKE
How nice...
(shyly)
Are you going to eat those potatoes?

REVEREND
Hmmm? Oh... no, help yourself.

Mike digs in.

REVEREND
Anyway, the children at his school need to be immunized, and the Denver doctors -- well, none of them wants to innoculate Indian children.
(reading the letter)
He says he remembers me writing about you...

MIKE (*O.S.)
Oh no, I couldn't possibly.

The Reverend looks up, surprised, thinking she's turning him down -- and sees that Mike is talking to Grace, who is offering her a piece of pie. Grace smiles, starts to move off, but then Mike calls her back:

MIKE
On second thought, I'd love a piece.

(CONTINUED)

4.


CONTINUED: 6

As Grace serves her:

REVEREND
He was hoping I might be able to convince you to come with me to Denver and help him out. I know it's an imposition --

MIKE
Not at all, I'd be happy to help -- although I'm not sure about leaving the clinic...

REVEREND
We'd be a short train ride away if there was an emergency. And we'd only be gone a few days...

GRACE
What can go wrong in a few days?

REVEREND
Exactly.

MIKE
Well then... when do we leave?

REVEREND
Thank you, Dr. Mike.

MIKE
I hear there are *several good restaurants in Denver.

Grace and the Reverend exchange smiles, shaking their heads.

MIKE
(innocently)
Well, we are going to have to eat.


EXT. LIVERY - DAY ONE - CONTINUOUS 7

Anthony leads Curtis out to the street past Robert E:

ANTHONY
I'm gonna show Mr. Curtis the hot springs. Maybe he can build a street out to 'em.

Curtis isn't insensitive; he can sense Robert E's feelings:

CURTIS
If that's alright with you.

(CONTINUED)

5.


CONTINUED: 7

Robert E nods.

CURTIS
He's a good child. You're a lucky man.

Anthony takes Curtis' hand and drags him off -- and as Curtis turns, he bumps into RANDOLPH CUMMINGS, a prosperous, East Coast city-dressed man in his mid-twenties.

CURTIS
Excuse me...

RANDOLPH
(dusting himself unnecessarily)
No harm done, I suppose.
(then, to both men:)
Can you inform me where I can find Preston Lodge?


INT. BANK - DAY ONE 8

MYRA, working at her desk, can't help but overhear as PRESTON shakes hands with Randolph:

PRESTON
My my, good old Andover --
(trying to remember him)
And you were a student there when...?

RANDOLPH
I was a few years behind you, no reason for you to remember me. *But we all lived in the shadow of the Preston Lodge legend.

PRESTON
(false modesty)
Oh now...

He leads Randolph back to his desk:

RANDOLPH
Your prep school reputation has certainly borne up -- here you are on the ground floor of a frontier banking empire.

PRESTON
Well, empire may be a bit too strong... But enough about me.
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

6.


CONTINUED: 8

PRESTON (CONT'D)
What brings you all the way out here, Randolph?

RANDOLPH
Just passing through -- I had a few minutes while my train was in town. On my way to El Paso.

That's all he says. Preston has to draw it out of him:

PRESTON
And what's in El Paso? Family? Business?

RANDOLPH
A potential investor.

Preston waits for him to say more. But Randolph looks around the bank, taking in the trappings:

RANDOLPH
Very impressive -- is that leather Moroccan?

PRESTON
Yes -- what kind of business are you in?

RANDOLPH
I'm emulating you, trying to get in on the ground floor myself, financing a venture back east. You didn't purchase that walnut locally?

PRESTON
Heavens no, had to have it brought in from Boston. What *sort of venture?

RANDOLPH
Hmm? Oh -- mass production, the way of the future. Those men who had the foresight to invest in the telegraph and the sewing machine -- millionaires now.

PRESTON
(growing more impressed)
Indeed. And what sort of product are you involved with?

Randolph leans in and speaks low -- which causes Myra, listening from her desk, to lean back and listen to them:

(CONTINUED)

7.


CONTINUED: (2) 8

RANDOLPH
A new invention -- a home refrigeration box, utilizing a scientific cooling system to reduce spoilage --

PRESTON
(thinking it through)
For preserving food --

RANDOLPH
Exactly.

PRESTON
I can see how that could be extremely profitable -- yes indeed, you could make a fortune.

RANDOLPH
(whispering)
Preston, please. I've obtained almost all the financing -- this fellow in El Paso looks like he'll put in the last fifteen percent, but until I do...

PRESTON
Discretion, of course.
(rising)
Randolph. You must spend the night here --
(cutting him off)
As my guest, I insist. I want to hear more about this venture.

He guides Randolph toward the door:

RANDOLPH
But my investor in El Paso --

PRESTON
The telegraph is, as you said, a marvelous invention. Allows you to be late without worrying people. Let me take you to lunch...

As they pass by Myra, she watches them go, thinking about what she's just heard...

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER




8.


ACT ONE


FADE IN:


INT. BANK - NIGHT ONE 9

Preston and Randolph pour over the impressive-looking technical plans for the "Cummings Home Refrigeration Box":

RANDOLPH
The principle is based on Boyle's experiment number thirty-eight -- you know, the one in which he showed that vacuums --

PRESTON
Boyle?

RANDOLPH
Robert Boyle, the English scientist -- remember Iggie teaching us about him at Andover?

PRESTON
Professor Igstrom! Haven't thought about him in years... His class provided some of my best, deepest sleep.

They share a laugh.

RANDOLPH
One of my professors at Oxford studied with William Cullen at Glasgow University. Cullen discovered that volatile liquids produce a strong cooling effect when placed under a vacuum --

PRESTON
(from the plans)
So this is a vacuum?

RANDOLPH
Exactly. When I returned to the States, I commissioned a couple of scientists. [After several months of experiments, we came up with this.]

PRESTON
You have a prototype?

RANDOLPH
Sent it ahead to El Paso -- my investor there is a cautious man.

(CONTINUED)

9.


CONTINUED: 9

PRESTON
Caution is an admirable quality. Might you have that prototype sent here, Randolph?

RANDOLPH
I suppose so -- why?

PRESTON
I might be interested in helping you out.

RANDOLPH
But my investor in El Paso --

PRESTON
Did not go to Andover. Am I correct?

He gives Randolph his best grin. Randolph grins back.

RANDOLPH
I never dreamt I might be in business with The Legend himself.
(then, concerned)
My investor said he'd be interested in the entire fifteen percent -- he's in cattle.
(not wanting to offend Preston:)
That's a fairly large investment...

PRESTON
Shouldn't be a problem -- if I like the prototype.

RANDOLPH
I don't mean to put you in a spot, but I can't put my investor off for more than a few days...

PRESTON
Then let's wire for that prototype right now, shall we?


INT./eXT. *TELEGRAPH OFFICE - NIGHT ONE 10

HORACE, haphazardly dressed and looking groggy, finishes sending a telegram and starts to close up...

RANDOLPH
A nightcap, Preston?

(CONTINUED)

10.


CONTINUED: 10

PRESTON
Actually, I'm a little tired, such a stimulating day.

RANDOLPH
I'll see you tomorrow, then.

Randolph leaves. Horace is just about to close the window when Preston turns back to him, anything but tired:

PRESTON
Not so fast, Horace. I need to send a telegram to Andover -- and another one to the Dean of Science, Boston University...

DISSOLVE TO:


EXT. TRAINSTATION - DAY TWO 11

The train WHISTLES, getting ready to leave. Sully, MATTHEW, BRIAN and COLLEEN are seeing off Mike and the Reverend. Sully and Colleen walk with Mike; Matthew and Brian with the Reverend.

MIKE
(to Colleen)
Mrs. Ferguson will be coming by for her medicine -- and don't forget to look in on Mr. Bailey --

COLLEEN
I'll remember.
(then)
Ma, I was talkin' to Mr. Lodge -- maybe I oughta open a savings account at the bank...

MIKE
(concerned)
Why?

COLLEEN
Medical school's gonna be expensive...

Mike and Sully exchange a look.

MIKE
I'm not so sure that's a good idea, Colleen --

The train whistle BLOWS.

(CONTINUED)

11.


CONTINUED: 11

MIKE
Can we talk about it when I get back?

Colleen nods. Matthew, Brian and the Reverend join them.

MIKE
If anything happens, I'm just a train ride away --

BRIAN
Don't worry, everything's gonna be fine.

MIKE
You're getting much too mature, Brian -- just make sure you don't grow any taller while I'm gone.

They all share laughs and hugs. But the Mom in Mike takes over:

MIKE
And Matthew --

MATTHEW
I'll make sure nothin' bad happens to anybody anywhere. You just take care of yourself -- don't let her work too hard, Reverend.

SULLY
Make sure she stops working at three every day.

REVEREND
You can depend on it.

Sully walks Mike away from the others, toward the train:

SULLY
Seems like one of us is always comin' or goin'.

MIKE
Modern life.

SULLY
You take care of yourself.

MIKE
I'll be fine -- I just wish I could be sure everything will be alright here...

(CONTINUED)

12.


CONTINUED: (2) 11

SULLY
What can go wrong in a few days?

She's heard that before. She smiles, and they kiss...


EXT. GRACE'S CAFE - DAY TWO 12

The breakfast rush. About to serve a plate to a WHITE MALE CUSTOMER, Anthony has a pain attack: he winces and drops the plate.

WHITE CUSTOMER
Little fool! Now I gotta wait for them to cook another steak -- you half-wit.

Grace hears that, and is on him like a shot:

GRACE
You ain't waitin' for anything here, mister, get out.

WHITE CUSTOMER
Wasn't my fault, the boy dropped the plate -- !

It's about to turn into an Incident. Robert E has heard it, and is on his way over --

But Curtis, closer by, beats Robert E to it: he steps up to the plate, literally, picking it up off the ground.

CURTIS
Tell me sir, what line of work are you in?

Curtis' question and respectful tone have had their intended effect, surprising the Customer, who gets defensive:

WHITE CUSTOMER
I'm a carpenter -- why?

CURTIS
Well now, that's a highly skilled profession -- you've got to be smart to be a carpenter.
(then:)
Ever drop a hammer?

WHITE CUSTOMER
(surprised again)
What difference does that --

(CONTINUED)

13.


CONTINUED: 12

CURTIS
And yet, you're still an intelligent man... aren't you?

The Customer sees he's been trapped. Embarrassed, he leaves. Curtis hands the plate to Anthony, as Grace and Robert E look on:

CURTIS
Don't ever let anybody tell you colored people aren't as smart as white people, Anthony.

Anthony nods with silent admiration. This is all getting to be too much for Robert E, who feels trapped himself:

ROBERT E
Much obliged.

CURTIS
You'd have done the same thing.

ROBERT E
(a beat, then:)
You hopin' to find surveyin' work 'round here, Mr. Roper?

CURTIS
Call me Curtis. I can't imagine there'd be a lot of call for surveyors here...

Robert E hides his relief --

CURTIS
But I've put away some money, and I was thinking of finding a pretty spot to settle down and start some kind of business.

ANTHONY
You can start one here!

ROBERT E
(hopefully)
Then you'd be sendin' for your family?

CURTIS
I'm afraid my wife and I weren't blessed with children...
(beat)
And my wife passed on three years ago.

(CONTINUED)

14.


CONTINUED: (2) 12

[ROBERT E
Sorry to hear that.]

Robert E puts one hand on Anthony's shoulder, and another on Grace's back, as if to say, "You can't have mine."


EXT. GENERAL STORE - DAY TWO 13

Cloud Dancing approaches the store. [A couple of passers-by notice him, ]but he ignores them. He meets up with Sully, who's been waiting for him outside the store.

SULLY
This ain't gonna be easy.

CLOUD DANCING
Then let me do the talking.

He continues into the store without even pausing. Sully, surprised by his confidence, follows him in...


INT. GENERAL STORE - DAY TWO 14

LOREN shakes his head, addressing Sully and Cloud Dancing:

LOREN
I got my own suppliers, people I know I can count on.

CLOUD DANCING
You can count on us.

LOREN
But you got no experience as businessmen -- why, you ain't even been farmers 'til now.

CLOUD DANCING
Our crop is large, the quality is good.

LOREN
How can I be sure?

SULLY
Give it a try -- if it don't work out --

LOREN
You ain't talkin' good business. If I take Indian corn, I got to turn away my regular suppliers. How do I know folks'll *buy it? I could end up with nothin'.

(CONTINUED)

15.


CONTINUED: 14

SULLY
Come on, Loren, it's the same seed your suppliers are usin' --

LOREN
No offense, but I gotta stick with folks I can count on.

Cloud Dancing turns to Sully:

CLOUD DANCING
He does not trust us.*

He leaves. Sully gives Loren a chastening look, then follows Cloud Dancing out.


EXT. GRACE'S CAFE - DAY TWO 15

DOROTHY eats lunch with Myra. Something's on Dorothy's mind:

MYRA
We're gettin' more and more customers all the time -- it's a real excitin' time to be involved with finance.

DOROTHY
Myra... I been wantin' to ask your advice, now that you're workin' at the bank and -- well, practically an expert on these matters.

Myra is aglow: Dorothy wants to ask her advice?

MYRA
Why sure Dorothy.

DOROTHY
With all the new folks in town, I've been thinkin' I should expand the Gazette --

MYRA
That's a wonderful idea!

DOROTHY
There's no room at the store and it's time for me to move out anyway --

MYRA
Dorothy this is perfect! [You could buy the old telegraph office --]

(CONTINUED)

16.


CONTINUED: 15

DOROTHY
*I can't afford to buy it on my own. I s'pose Loren'd* loan me the money, but it wouldn't be good to put money between us.

MYRA
Especially with Loren.

DOROTHY
(smiles agreement)
How's that loan been workin' out -- the one Horace took out for the surrey?

MYRA
There's a better way.

DOROTHY
There is?

MYRA
Investin'. Puttin' your money to work for you.

DOROTHY
Isn't that risky?

MYRA
Not all the time -- not if you buy companies that make things that folks wanna* buy.

DOROTHY
My goodness, I don't have enough money to buy a company.

MYRA
All you gotta buy is a little *bit of it -- that's what I'm plannin' to do so we can get a new place.

Myra sees Randolph and Preston enter the cafe together. She leans in and whispers to Dorothy:

MYRA
See that man over there, with Preston? I wasn't gonna tell anybody else 'bout this, but you're such a good friend...

Grace, carrying a pitcher past them, sees Myra whispering. She slows her pace behind them, listening in...

(CONTINUED)

17.


CONTINUED: (2) 15

MYRA
Just between you and me...


EXT. GENERAL STORE - DAY TWO 16

Curtis, carrying a basket of food for Grace, looks at her with surprise; she's just whispered something to him:

CURTIS
A home refrigeration box?

GRACE
Sssh -- you gotta promise you won't tell anybody...

That's enough to intrigue Loren, who lingers in the doorway unseen, listening in.


INT. HANK'S SALOON - NIGHT TWO 17

A busy night. HANK serves a whiskey across the counter to Curtis. Curtis is thinking something through:

CURTIS
Tell me something. You get a lot of folks coming in here -- you probably know what folks would go for.

HANK
Hope you're not sellin' anythin'.

CURTIS
Actually, I'm thinking of buying. Now don't go spreading this around...

He leans in and whispers across the bar to Hank.


+JAKE 18

walks in. He sees Hank and Curtis deep in serious, private conversation. How can he resist? He approaches them, unseen by Hank, whose back is to him. Jake leans against the bar, his back to Hank (they're back to back), listening in.

CURTIS
You think folks would want to buy something like that?

HANK
Sounds like maybe there's a *need for it --

(CONTINUED)

18.


CONTINUED: 18

CURTIS
That's what I'm thinking -- everyone would want one in their home...

Now Jake's really interested. He leans back, trying to get every word...


INT. HOMESTEAD - NIGHT TWO 19

Colleen takes a pitcher of milk out of the cold box. She and Brian are preparing supper, as Sully builds a fire.

COLLEEN
Sully... how much does medical school cost?

SULLY
(knows it's a lot, but tells her:)
Don't worry, we'll work it out.

He heads out to get some more wood. Colleen gives that some thought as she smells the milk. She jerks her head back: the milk has gone sour. She puts it aside.

COLLEEN
Better milk the cow first thing in the mornin', Brian.

BRIAN
Milk wouldn't go bad in a home refrigeratin' box.

COLLEEN
A home refrig...?

BRIAN
Refrigeratin' box -- keeps food cold without ice.

COLLEEN
(not believing him)
Sure.

BRIAN
It's real... and it's scientific, too. Mr. Bray says it's gonna be the next big thing -- like the railroad. And folks're *gonna make lots of money off it.

Now Colleen is getting interested...


19.


INT. DENVER POST OFFICE - DAY THREE 20

Mike and the Reverend stand at a counter, addressing envelopes. The wall behind them features "Wanted" posters.

MIKE
You think the children will like this drawing of Long's Peak?

REVEREND
As long as you assure them that you didn't climb it.

As Mike laughs, and they move out of frame, we PUSH IN ON [A STATIONMASTER PUTTING UP A "WANTED" POSTER...]

MIKE (O.S.)
In my present condition, it's all I can do to climb stairs...

The "Wanted" poster features an excellent likeness of Randolph, complete with several aliases, none of them Randolph Cummings...

MIKE (O.S.)
I hope everything's alright at home.

REVEREND (O.S.)
What can go wrong in a few days?

We SETTLE ON THE HEADLINE OF THE POSTER, which reads "WANTED FOR FRAUD!", and

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE




20.


ACT TWO


FADE IN:


EXT. GRACE'S CAFE - DAY THREE 21

Lunch-time, very busy. Preston arrives, looks around. Randolph waves to Preston from a table where he has saved a seat for him. Preston smiles, gestures just a minute, and catches Horace, who's on his way out:

PRESTON
Any replies to my telegrams?

HORACE
Not yet.

PRESTON
You'll let me know as soon as anything comes in?

HORACE
Sure thing.

Preston heads toward Randolph's table --


+ANGLE - RANDOLPH'S TABLE 22

Curtis beats Preston to the seat that Randolph has saved for Preston.

CURTIS
Mr. Cummings?

Randolph nods impatiently, wanting him to get out of Preston's way.

CURTIS
Curtis Roper.

He offers his hand. Randolph doesn't shake hands. Curtis sits.

CURTIS
I understand you're selling shares in a company that --

RANDOLPH
That seat's taken -- Mr. Lodge...*

CURTIS
I'll only take a minute of your time -- I'm interested in investing in your company.

(CONTINUED)

21.


CONTINUED: 22

RANDOLPH
Pardon me...

He rises, takes Preston aside, speaking low:

RANDOLPH
This is just what I was afraid of, word gets out and people want in... and not our kind of people.

Curtis hears that, and sees Anthony and Grace and Robert E (among others) watching this go down. It's a showdown. He rises, respectfully businesslike, but also purposeful and strong:

CURTIS
Colored money is as good as any,* Mr. Cummings.

He takes a billfold out of his pocket. Randolph looks to Preston, who remains poker-faced: he's not going to be rushed. Randolph shrugs it off:

RANDOLPH
(to Preston)
He can't have too much to invest.
(to Curtis, *begrudgingly)
[Might be able to get you a couple of shares...]

As they walk off, Grace watches Curtis with admiration...


INT. GENERAL STORE - DAY THREE 23

Randolph inspects *items at the counter. Loren sees him, drops another customer, and makes a bee-line for him:

LOREN
Mr. Cummings, ain't it?

Randolph nods. Loren takes him aside, with quiet urgency:

LOREN
I got some money put aside -- I was gonna buy a house, but land ain't worth spit compared to mass production.

RANDOLPH
You're a man with great foresight, Mr. Bray.

FAST CUT TO:


22.


EXT. GENERAL STORE - DAY THREE 24


OMITTED (25) 25

Share certificates for the Cummings Home Refrigeration Box FILL THE FRAME...

WIDEN OUT TO REVEAL Loren stashing the shares inside his jacket pocket, as he shows Randolph out of the store. But then as Loren sees Dorothy approaching from the street, he withdraws quickly back into the store, not wanting her to see the exchange (and she doesn't).

Dorothy and Randolph walk toward each other along the boardwalk. As they pass, they whisper to each other out of the corner of their mouths, eyes straight ahead.

DOROTHY
I got the money.

RANDOLPH
Meet me at the church.

And they continue on their paths, as if they'd never met.

FAST CUT TO:


INT. TELEGRAPH OFFICE - DAY THREE 26

Horace is counting money out of a box into an envelope. Myra, dressed for work, watches over his shoulder:

HORACE
Preston sent some telegrams to make sure about this -- maybe we oughta wait 'til he gets some replies --

He stops counting the money. Myra immediately takes over:

MYRA
Horace, for once in your life, take charge -- there's only so many shares, we gotta get 'em before anybody else.

FAST CUT TO:


INT. HANK'S SALOON - NIGHT THREE 27

Making sure nobody is watching, Hank slips some cash across the bar to Randolph, who slips back some shares.

FAST CUT TO:


23.


INT. BARBER SHOP - DAY FOUR 28

His haircut finished, Randolph stands -- but instead of paying Jake, Jake pays him a huge wad of cash.

FAST CUT TO:


EXT. CLINIC - DAY FOUR 29

Sully, Matthew, Brian and Colleen unpack supplies for the clinic from the wagon.[

BRIAN]
What're shares in a company?

Matthew and Sully look at each other: where'd this come from? Colleen listens closely, masking her interest as she unnecessarily rearranges a basket.

SULLY
It's like if you and me put our money together to buy some cattle -- then we'd own 'em together and split anything we made off 'em.

BRIAN
So what's "exclusive rights"?

SULLY
Guess it's ownin' somethin' like a piece of land.

BRIAN
And what's "in perpet --"
(tries again)
"perpetuity"?

Sully and Matthew look at each other once more: what's this all about?

COLLEEN
In perpetuity means forever.

BRIAN
What's a "sure-fire investment"?

Sully and Matthew look at each other again, this time shaking their heads; now this is getting a little clearer:

SULLY
Loren fillin' your head with nonsense again?

MATTHEW
Ain't no such thing as sure-fire, Brian.
(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

24.


CONTINUED: 29

MATTHEW (CONT'D)
That's what I thought about gamblin' -- couldn't see any way I could lose.

BRIAN
But you lost 'cause you got cheated.

MATTHEW
I cheated myself -- let myself get greedy. Somethin' with money seems to be too good to be true, it prob'ly is.

Brian nods. Sully, proud of Matthew, pats him on the back.

SULLY
I gotta go see Loren 'bout makin' an "investment" in the reservation.

He takes off. [Matthew and Brian take a load into the clinic, leaving behind Colleen, who has been listening intently.

She takes a beaded pouch out of her pocket. She opens it; inside are a few bills. She takes them out, trying to make a decision...

omitted (30)


EXT. ]MEADOW - DAY FOUR 31

Anthony plays tag with another child his age. Grace and Curtis watch them from a distance, as they stroll.

GRACE
I can't remember the last time I took a *moment off to just do nothin'.

CURTIS
It's a beautiful town, you should take advantage of it.

GRACE
Nothin' like you're used to... nothin' like New Orleans. The houses and the clothes and the markets --

CURTIS
The music spilling into the street everywhere --

(CONTINUED)

25.


CONTINUED: 31

GRACE
All the spices from the Far East out in baskets, perfumin' the air... and the people, the people from all over the world.

CURTIS
You can't possibly miss being... indentured.

GRACE
'Course I don't miss bein' a slave. I was talkin' 'bout New Orleans.

Anthony runs up to them, full of beans:

ANTHONY
You gonna sell Miss Grace one of your 'frigeration boxes, Mr. Curtis?

CURTIS
I don't sell them, Anthony, I just own a small part of the company that makes them.

GRACE
'Sides, Anthony, I don't see as we'll ever be able to afford one.

Anthony looks down, disappointed. Curtis is about to say something, then changes his mind.


EXT. GENERAL STORE - DAY FOUR 32

Sully follows Loren out of the store, trying to convince him:

SULLY
It's good quality, better than the corn you got last year.

LOREN
That corn sold just fine.

SULLY
"Just fine"? That good enough for you?

Now he's got Loren's attention, and tries to close the sale:

SULLY
This corn'll sell, Loren.

(CONTINUED)

26.


CONTINUED: 32

LOREN
(tempted, but...)
*What if they don't deliver as much as they say?

SULLY
They will --

LOREN
But what if they don't?

SULLY
I'll make good on it.

Loren gives that some thought; now it's a different ballgame:

LOREN
How you gonna do that?

SULLY
I'll find a way -- you got my word on it.

LOREN
(ponders, then:)
Let me think about it.

He heads into the store. Sully starts to follow him, but thinks better of it.


EXT. LIVERY - DAY FOUR 33

Robert E bangs his hammer down on a red-hot horseshoe:

ROBERT E
No.

Grace doesn't raise her voice; she wants him to really consider this:

GRACE
Robert E... we gotta think about the future. We ain't got much, we gotta make our money work for us.

ROBERT E
Money don't work for us, we work for money, and I ain't gonna give it to somebody else to spend --

GRACE
It's investin', not givin' --

(CONTINUED)

27.


CONTINUED: 33

ROBERT E
(overriding her)
-- on somethin' that might not work out.

GRACE
What're we gonna do? Scrape along, penny to penny, day to day? With Anthony's *sickness, we never know what we're gonna need -- we gotta provide for him now.

ROBERT E
I can do that with my own two hands.

GRACE
(impatience growing)
Curtis invested, he knows what he's doin'.

ROBERT E
And I don't?

Entrenched and exasperated, they turn away from each other.


EXT. HANK'S SALOON - NIGHT FOUR 34

A dark, shadowy night. It's late, and the town is dead quiet. Even the saloon has emptied out. Randolph leaves the saloon, pocketing some cash as he buttons his shirt with a warm post-coital grin:

RANDOLPH
I love it when the girls pay me.

Randolph walks along the dark, deserted street...

Suddenly, he hears FOOTSTEPS behind him, in time with his own. An echo? He slows, all attention. The footsteps slow. His hand moves slowly to his gun, then he whips around. He peers into the shadowy street, but can't see anybody.

He turns back, starts walking again. As he rounds the corner, we see a figure move out of one of the darkest shadows, but before we can identify the figure --


EXT. STREET AND ALLEY - NIGHT FOUR - CONTINUOUS 35

Randolph walks, alert. He hears the footsteps behind him again.

(CONTINUED)

28.


CONTINUED: 35

He turns into an alley (between the store and the barber shop), and quickly ducks out of sight behind a barrel, slipping his gun out of its holster.


+FROM BEHIND THE BARREL 36

We watch with Randolph as the figure, now identifiable only as a man, turns into the alley. The figure stops, looks around, and slowly, cautiously walks past the barrel --


+RANDOLPH, 37

his gun firmly in hand, whips up behind the man, cocking his gun to the man's head.

RANDOLPH
Hold it.

The man puts out his hands, showing he's not holding a weapon, and turns slowly to Randolph... it's Curtis.

Randolph lowers his gun and leads Curtis quickly by the arm further into the shadowy alley behind the gate, looking around to make sure nobody's around, whispering:

RANDOLPH
What the hell're you doing?

CURTIS
Relax, it's an early town.

RANDOLPH
You know the rules -- no contact 'til we leave town.

CURTIS
That's just it -- it's time to move on.

RANDOLPH
You surprise me.
(off his look)
I saw the way you looked at that woman who runs the cafe.

Randolph grins lasciviously. Curtis tenses up (it's the truth).

CURTIS
I just figure we've bled it for all it's worth.

(CONTINUED)

29.


CONTINUED: 37

RANDOLPH
Oh no, we've still got the big fish... and I'm just about ready to reel that banker in.
(clapping Curtis on the shoulder)
Buddy, we're gonna make a killing on this town.

Curtis loosens up, grins back. As they laugh we --

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO




30.


ACT THREE


FADE IN:


EXT. GRACE'S CAFE - DAY FIVE 38

The lunch crowd is emptying out. Grace looks around for Randolph...


+GRACE'S POV - RANDOLPH SITTING AT A TABLE 39

Colleen gets up from the seat across from him, putting her money pouch into her pocket, and leaves the cafe.


+GRACE 40

wipes her hands nervously as she heads to Randolph. She sits across from him:

GRACE
Mr. Cummings...

She takes some bills out of her pocket.

GRACE
How many shares'll *this buy?


+CURTIS 41

comes into the cafe, sees Grace showing her money to Randolph. He doesn't like this, and quickly heads over to the table, coming up behind Grace, so she doesn't see him.

Randolph sees Curtis arriving behind Grace. Curtis signals Randolph with his eyes, "don't take it."

Randolph flicks his eyes back to Curtis, "get lost."

Grace doesn't notice; she's too busy counting her money with shaking hands.

RANDOLPH
Let me count that for you.

Randolph takes her money. Curtis turns away, troubled.


EXT. BARBER SHOP - DAY FIVE 42

Loren, Jake and Hank sit in a row outside the barbershop. They're bursting to tell each other their secrets, but don't want to tip their hands. Instead, they rock, look around the street, etc. After a moment, they have to say something.

(CONTINUED)

31.


CONTINUED: 42

Overly casual:

LOREN
Nice day.

JAKE
Sure is.

HANK
Never better.

A little more silence.

HANK
Thought you two'd be trapped inside, workin' away at your little...
(disparagingly)
jobs.

JAKE
Don't think I'm gonna have to work so hard from now on.

LOREN
Plannin' a *trip myself. Paris France.

HANK
What, no Bo-livia?

LOREN
(impatiently)
Am I never gonna live that down?

Hank and Jake shake their heads:

HANK AND JAKE
Nope.

LOREN
That was the plan of a man without financial resources.

JAKE
(with a laugh)
And now you're rich?

LOREN
What's so funny 'bout that?

Jake and Hank laugh.

HANK
That's 'bout as funny as Jake gettin' rich.

(CONTINUED)

32.


CONTINUED: (2) 42

Jake stops laughing:

JAKE
Maybe I got me a financial plan of my own.

HANK
Gonna branch out into cuttin' pet hair -- like that little Fifi rat-dog?

Now it's Loren and Hank's turn to share a laugh, pissing Jake off enough to blurt out:

JAKE
I got a sure-fire investment.

That stops Hank and Loren.

LOREN
Not as sure-fire as mine.

HANK
You two're pathetic -- what d'ya know about finance?

JAKE
Enough to invest in the future -- mass production.

LOREN
But it's what you produce that counts -- I'm in home refrigeratin'.

Jake is startled; ever competitive, he digs into his pocket, pulls out his shares:

JAKE
I'm in home refrigeratin'!

Hank, still sure he's better off, pulls out his shares:

HANK
You rubes. I bought into the Cummings Home Refrigeratin' Box.

Loren pushes his shares under Hank's nose:

LOREN
What's that look like to you? Buck Nucklehead's Home Refrigeratin' Box?

(CONTINUED)

33.


CONTINUED: (3) 42

[Finally realizing that they're all holding shares, Hank, Loren and Jake look at each other with ]horrified, stupefied silence -- what can this mean?


EXT. TELEGRAPH OFFICE - DAY FIVE 43

Horace, looking relieved, hands a couple of telegrams to Preston, who turns away from Horace to read them:

HORACE
So Mr. Cummings went to your school after all.

Preston nods as he starts to move away, reading the next telegram.

HORACE
Guess you must be pretty happy all that mumbo-jumbo 'bout that refrigeratin' box seems right.

Preston looks up, as he realizes Horace's chatter might be significant. He turns back to Horace:

PRESTON
I appreciate your concern, Horace -- but I must admit I find it intriguing -- do you have some personal interest in this matter?

HORACE
(gushing)
Oh you bet, Mr. Lodge -- why, Myra and I put near every cent we got in that company.

Preston is surprised. He thinks that through, and starts heading quickly back to town...


EXT. BANK - DAY FIVE 44

An ever-enlarging group of townsfolk (including Loren, Hank, Jake and Myra) surround Randolph, who has been cornered near the door of the bank.

They hold share certificates in their hands and are demanding an explanation (AD-LIBS "These any good?", "How come there's so many?", "How'd he get 'em?", etc).


+PRESTON 45

slows as he approaches and takes in what's happening; this isn't good. Dorothy rushes up to him:*

(CONTINUED)

34.


CONTINUED: 45

DOROTHY
*What does this mean? I invested all the royalty money from my book --

But before Preston can answer --


+RANDOLPH 46

raises his confident voice to quell the crowd; he's still cool as a cucumber:

RANDOLPH
Ladies and gentlemen -- there's no reason for concern. An undertaking of this size requires substantial capitalization --

Curtis joins the crowd, sizes up the situation, and calls out belligerently, protecting his cover:

CURTIS
How do we know you haven't sold too many shares?

RANDOLPH
I'm glad you asked that -- my books are open and available for anyone to see...

[He takes a small leather notebook out of his pocket and holds it aloft.] By now, Grace and Colleen have (separately) joined the crowd, both looking worried.

RANDOLPH
Why, your local banker Mr. Lodge himself will tell you that this is a perfectly legal, and what's more, a shrewd way of investing your money -- isn't that so, Preston?

The crowd looks over to Preston, whose own concerns outweigh any thought for them. Preston moves through the crowd toward Randolph:

PRESTON
Yes -- of course...

Preston unlocks the door of the bank as Randolph soothes the crowd:

(CONTINUED)

35.


CONTINUED: 46

RANDOLPH
Some of the largest, most successful companies in the world are financed just this way, and they pay substantial dividends to all their investors -- right, Preston?

PRESTON
(other things on his mind)
Absolutely.

Preston unlocks the door of the bank, and ushers Randolph inside.

The crowd, mollified, breaks up. Colleen walks away, looking relieved; Dorothy and Myra reassure each other; Hank, Loren and Jake nod at the wisdom of Randolph's remarks.


+ROBERT E, 47

who has been watching from the livery, is surprised to see Grace tucking some shares into her pocket. Surprised and angry, he heads over to her:

ROBERT E
You put money into this? &