Ext. Tombstone General Store Day
Sheriff Stories
January 17, 2006
FADE IN:
EXT. TOMBSTONE GENERAL STORE – DAY
A man rides up to the store on a black horse. He jumps off of the horse and ties his reigns to a nearby post.
The man is wearing a black cowboy hat and a long black coat. He has a mustache that curls up on the ends.
INT. TOMBSTONE GENERAL STORE - DAY
He steps into the store and the clerk of the store looks at him.
The clerk is an older man in his fifties. He is balding and somewhat overweight. He wears a white shirt with suspenders.
CLERK
Howdy!
The man looks at him and nods.
CLERK
I ain’t never seen you
around these parts before.
You just stoppin’ in?
He looks at the clerk and nods again as he walks up an aisle in the store.
CLERK
Don’t talk so much do ya?
The man continues walking down the aisles. He walks past a rack of beef jerky and horse-feed. He starts down the next aisle.
CLERK
Well, just let me know if
you need any help? I’ll be
in the back.
The clerk walks into the back. The man watches him. The man stops for a second and looks down. He sees a box of bullets. He looks around and then reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a silver revolver. He begins to load the gun. He puts all six bullets into his gun. He hears the man coming back and quickly puts the box down and the gun in his pocket.
The man approaches the clerk.
MAN
Do you know where I can find
a man by the name Murdock?
CLERK
Yeah! But you don’t wanna find
him. He’s the fastest gunslinger
this parts west of the Mississippi.
MAN
I asked a question. Tell me…
The man pulls the gun out of his pocket and points it at the clerk.
MAN
…or die.
The clerk quivers.
CLERK
I… I don’t know.
The man gets ready to shot him, his finger almost hitting the trigger.
CLERK
(pleading)
No… Please, don’t. I can tell
you someone who will know where
he is. But, please don’t shoot
me. He works in the Sheriff’s
office. Ask for him there.
The man puts the gun back into his coat pocket.
MAN
Thank you.
The man begins walking out but turns back for a second.
MAN
Oh, how rude of me. I
almost forgot to pay for
these bullets.
CLERK
What bullets?
MAN
These bullets.
He reaches back into his coat pocket and pulls out his gun and BLAM shoots the clerk right between the eyes. The clerk falls to the ground behind the counter. The man walks behind the counter. He looks around and finds a gun under the counter. He places it in the clerk’s hand.
EXT. TOMBSTONE GENERAL STORE – DAY
A man and two women approach the store.
WOMAN 1
What was that?
WOMAN 2
I don’t know.
INT. TOMBSTONE GENERAL STORE – DAY
The man steps out of the store.
EXT. TOMBSTONE GENERAL STORE – DAY
The man sees the two women and the man approaching the store.
MAN
Hurry. A man just shot him-
self in there. He needs
a doctor of some kind.
The first woman runs in.
WOMAN 1
Alright. I’ll check it out.
I’m a doctor.
The other woman and the man step in as well. The man quietly walks away leaving his horse behind.
FADE TO BLACK
FADE IN:
INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE – DAY
The mysterious man from before sits in a chair. The deputy approaches him.
DEPUTY
What’s your name cowboy?
MAN
John. John Parker.
DEPUTY
You’re not from around here
are you.
JOHN
No sir.
DEPUTY
I thought so.
(beat)
So, I want you to know that
the clerk of the Tombstone
General Store died.
John has a look of shock on his face.
DEPUTY
I know. That’s how I felt.
Here’s this man of 52. Lived
a good clean life. Had a family
and was the proud owner of this
beloved town store. He was pretty
wealthy and seemed happy to me.
Now here I think… Why would he
kill himself. I just can’t
figure out why. (beat)
We haven’t had a crime here
in this town in over three
years. Don’t make sense to
me. (beat)
John looks confused and the deputy notices.
DEPUTY
But, anyways, I was just
wondering how you’re feeling.
Do you need to talk to anyone?
JOHN
I don’t know… I was wondering
something though… do you know
a man by the name of Murdock?
DEPUTY
Of course I do. He’s my boss.
JOHN
So… so he’s the sheriff?
The Deputy nods.
DEPUTY
Why? You need to talk to
him?
JOHN
Not really. I just need
a place to stay.
DEPUTY
Well, for all your hospitality
we’d be glad to pay for a night
at the local motel.
JOHN
Really?
DEPUTY
Of course. I mean you came to
us with this information. It’s
the least we could do.
JOHN
Thanks.
John looks around.
JOHN
So, when does Sheriff
Murdock come in? I’d love
to talk to him.
DEPUTY
Not til tomorrow. He’s
at the hospital taking a day
off. His wife had a baby
last night. So, he was up
late with her at the hospital.
JOHN
Oh. Well, tell him the story
for me please.
John stands up and so does the deputy.
DEPUTY
No problem.
JOHN
Thanks. Thanks a lot.
John shakes his hand and walks out of the office.
FADE TO
INT. MOTEL – DAY
John lies in bed, he begins to fall asleep.
FADE TO
EXT. BARN – DAY
Two kids play in a barn. The one kid appears to be John as a child.
John runs around the corner of the barn until he runs into Murdock. Murdock is an older boy. He is holding a gun. He pushes John to the ground and runs away.
John looks at him as he runs away and then runs back to the house.
INT. HOUSE – DAY
John’s mother is standing over her husband’s dead body. She weeps.
John runs up and hugs his mother’s leg.
JOHN
Ma, what happened to
dad?
MOM
He was shot… (crying)
shot by that dam Murdock kid.
John looks surprised. In that moment the door swings open and Murdock appears again. He points the gun at John’s mother and BLAM, BLAM he shoots her. John ducks behind a wall. He is shaking with fear. He is so scared he begins to cry.
MURDOCK
You can’t hide forever John.
CUT TO
INT. MOTEL – NIGHT
John jolts. He appears to be awake now. He sits up.
JOHN(V.O.)
And I wont hide forever.
CUT TO
INT.HOSPITAL – NIGHT
Murdock sits with his wife while she holds their newborn baby.
MURDOCK
The nurse should be coming
up here to sign us out.
WIFE
I can’t wait to get back home.
MURDOCK
Me too. It’ll be safer there.
The nurse walks in.
NURSE
You all set to go Mrs. Murdock.
If anything out of the ordinary
call the doctor.
MURDOCK
Thanks again.
CUT TO
INT. MURDOCK’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Murdock opens the door to their house and holds it for his wife who is carrying their baby.
She walks up stairs to her bedroom and Murdock follows. She lays their baby on the bed. She starts undressing.
MRS. MURDOCK
I am so tired. I am going to
take a hot bath. Will you watch
our child.
MURDOCK
Of course.
She exits the bedroom. And Murdock picks up his child. He rocks it back and forth and sings to him.
Meanwhile, John is secretly hiding under their bed. Murdock continues to sing. He walks out into the hallway and down the stairs but suddenly stops and walks back up. As he enters the bedroom John is standing there with a gun pointed at his head. Murdock jumps.
JOHN
Murdock. You son of a
bitch.
MURDOCK
Well, well, well… Parker.
How’s the family.
JOHN
I don’t know. How’s your
wife.
MURDOCK
You wouldn’t.
JOHN
I did. (beat)
After what you did to me.
That should be the least of
your worries. (beat)
John looks at the baby.
JOHN
Now hand over the baby.
Murdock looks at him in disgust.
MURDOCK
No way.
JOHN
Okay. But answer me one
question before you die.
Why did you kill my mother
and father. They never did
anything to you.
MURDOCK
I know. But I envied everything
they had.
JOHN
Well, when you see them in
heaven tell them I love em.
John grabs the baby and points the gun at Murdock’s head. BLAM. John shoots him dead.
INT. BATHROOM – NIGHT
Mrs. Murdock looks scared.
Mrs. Murdock
What was that?
John enters the bathroom.
Mrs. Murdock
Oh no. Who are you?
She stands up in the tub but John shoots her BLAM.
John turns around and walks out with the baby still in his arms. By this time the baby is scared and crying. John rocks the baby as he walks down the stairs. He talks to the baby and the baby begins to calm down.
JOHN
Do you have a name little
fella? (beat)
How about Ben.? Yeah. Ben.
After my father.
John walks out of the house and starts walking away from the town.
FADE TO BLACK
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